What stitch length do you use for piecing?
 

Hi!

I was wondering what stitch length you all use for piecing your quilts?

My new machine's default is 1.8, but that is awfully tiny, and difficult to rip out when necessary. So I bump my length up to 2.4.

What do you set your machine at?

Mine is preset to 2.5 and that seems to work for most things. If I'm paper piecing I drop it down and if I'm sewing on binding I'll bump it up a bit.

I use 2.5 or 3. When I start a line, I start at 1 and gradually move up to my regular length. I'll do the same thing at the end of the line.

Pretty much what I use, too. If I am strip piecing, I will shorten the stitch length a bit.

Ope! I misread your message! I use 2.5 or 3 for quilting, 2.5 for piecing!

My machine's default is 2.8, I change it to 2.2, for paper piecing I drop to 1.5.

My default on my Singer is 2.0 so I use that for piecing. I straight line quilt with a walking foot on that same machine at 3.0.

I usually piece at around 2. Paper piecing 1.8 and quilting about 2.8-3.

I like 1.8, it is tiny and hard to rip out but also the seams don't come apart as easily as with bigger stitches

I use 2.5 (the default) to 2.7 for piecing and have never had any issues with seams coming apart or visible stitches in the seams. I seldom have long, uncrossed, unintersected seams like borders, however.

I set my default to 2. I use 3 -4 for quilting--that depends on the batting.

My Bernina is auto set at 2.25. I drop it down to 1.5 for paper piecing and up it to 3.0 for machine quilting.

i use 2.5 unless something different is called for.

What do these numbers on the machine mean? Is it in millimeters or in fractions of an inch? Do they all mean the same stitch length across all manufacturers?

I thought you were supposed to use the little ruler that came with the machine to measure how many stitches to the inch and go by that. 10-12 stitches to the inch is standard?

If I sewed at 2.5 on my Janome it would be maybe 8 stitches to the inch. Not many, in any case.

I think mine is auto set on 2.5. I use Carol Doak's paper when pp, so I don't lower my stitches. My good friend here on the board sent me the Carol Doak's paper. I LOVE it!

I set my Bernina at 2.5 for most piecing. If it is a pattern with a lot of seams I will set it a bit tighter, about 2.0, it helps hold those seams together, and if I am doing PPing, I will go a bit smaller .

For Quilting on my home machine I usually set it at 3. I like the look it gives the quilting.
peace

I use 2.5 for piecing.

I use 2.0 (default) on my babylock serenade for my piecing and 2.5 for binding.

Default stitch on my machine is 2.5 but I always bump it down to 2.

I have a Bernina the default is 2.5. That is what I use for piecing.

I use 2.5 for piecing.

Me too. Love the longer stitches for quilting! If I'm machine sewing my binding down I use 2.5.

I use about 12 stitches per inch on my old Singer (bout 2.1 mm), and whatever the default is on my Janome (I think 2.5?). 1.8 would be too hard to pick out for the number of mistakes I make.

The numbers are stitch length in millimeters, so they should be standard across manufacturers. 1 inch = 25 mm, so a stitch length of 2.5 should be equivalent to 10 stitches per inch.

I drop down to 1.8 for piecing and 1.5 for paper piecing. I do some basting at around 2.5-3 when I am paper piecing and have to match a lot of points, when the meet up good I usually leave the basting stitches in and go back at 1.5. Hard to remove, you bet, but the stitches don't show and I feel confident they will hold.

I'm not sure about the different settings on various machines. I was always taught to make the stitch 12-13 stitches per inch.

I set my Brothers 1500 at 3-. My thought for this is that if I was doing hand piecing or quilting what size would I be able to hand sew. I am sure that I could not sew 10-12 stitches per inch. I may rethink this a little since you can sometimes see my stitches when presssing seams to side.

Since I use a Singer 401A and my FW, I use a 12 for piecing. It's a sturdy stitch and is not difficult to rip out (ask me how I know!)

I use 2.5, unless it is paper piecing, then I drop to a 1 or 1.5

Beautiful Avitar Quilt-I use 2.4

On my babylock I drop it down to 1.4 or 1.6, on my vintage singers I'm in the low 20s range for piecing. Yes I like a tiny stitch, I passed on a janome jem because the stitch wouldn't go short enough for me.

Jennifer thank you so much for that info! I can probably move up to 2.0 for piecing and have an easier time of it.

My machine is preset to 2.5 so that is what I use unless I am paper piecing. Then I drop it down to 2.

I can tell from reading everyone's comments that I am the only one with an old machine and featherweight answering this question. I usually use 12" stitches on my piecing. Gives a good stitch and seam, and not so hard to take out when needed.
Altho it is an old machine I still love it, and love my featherweight!!
Mariah

My stitch length varies with the quilt. I like to press seams open (former seamstress here), so I keep my stitches short. My default is 2.5, but I will often use 1.8 for piecing. When I was less experienced, I kept the default at 2.5 and learned how to press my seams to the side. That way if I had to rip out a seam, it wasn't such a horror. I must say that my Gingher seam ripper made me more willing to use smaller stitches because it can handle those smaller stitches more easily. Also, if I'm working on thinner fabrics, I'll use a shorter stitch, whereas if the fabric is thicker, I tend to lengthen my stitch, but not over 2.5. I do go longer (3.0) for FMQ.

Exactly what I use. I use 4. More than 3 for quilting.

my default is 2.4 and I tend to keep it that way ... just cuz it is easy to not change

My Janome actually has a "piecing' stitch and the default is 1.8. I agree that it does make ripping out a seam a little more difficult.

I use 2.2 for regular piecing, 1.8 if I'm pressing seams open or for paper piecing. I use 2.8 or 3 for quilting and binding.

Default stitch is 2.4 which I use.

I use 2.2. I agree 1.8 is small. Is there any way you can change the automatic setting? That would annoy me unless I do paper piecing only.