Do you count the stitches on the top and the bottom? The gal at my LQS said I had 16/inch, but that would include both. What is the proper amount...........8 or 16?

Only the top stitches are counted as far as I know. That's all my grandma counted and she did 10 stitches to the inch. She was the finest handstitcher in her womens guild.
Don't understand why you also count the bottom stitches.

I've read that you should count only the top stitches.

Janet

I always thought it was top stitches only being counted.

According to Thimblelady, it is only the stitches on top that are counted.

I only go by the top stitches. The other day I was looking at a website that sold amish quilts and it mentioned SPI and only counted the top stitches when picturing an example.

I handquilt and only count the top stitches. For me it's 10 for regular hand quilting; it's usually 5 for big stitch quilting with 12 wt. threads or #10 crochet thread.

Jan in VA

Never knew we should count. May I ask under which circumstances you would count?

Stitches are counted both ways....it just depends on who ask the question. I believe in most cases it is the stitches you see, not the ones you don't see. But when asked the question ....ask the question back "how do you count them" so you will know how to answer.

probably the best answer to RenaB is......
ego