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counting stitches per inch in hand quilting

counting stitches per inch in hand quilting

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Old 05-30-2014, 02:55 AM
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Default counting stitches per inch in hand quilting

Hello everybody, I have a question regarding counting stitches per inch in hand quilting.
When you say 7 or 9 or 12 stitches per inch, are you counting only the stitches you can see on the top of the quilt or both on the top and the back?
I suppose is only on the top, but just to be sure.

Thank you!
Patricia (hand quitler)
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:03 AM
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I just started hand quilting and count only on the top.

Here's an article on counting stitches: http://timquilts.com/2013/02/15/coun...ting-stitches/
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:23 AM
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Top only, but frankly, I'd rather have even stitches, even if there are fewer of them.

Janet
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:31 AM
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I don't count. I try to be even and sometimes I'm not. I just like to make the stitches as best I can.
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:39 AM
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Patricia, good question and Anael good link. I have always heard about stitch count and thought it was the front and the link makes a good point. Actually my stitches are to small,as one comment stated, and I am working on making them just a tad bigger.
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:43 AM
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some people (like the 'Thimble Lady') count the top & bottom stitches- thus achieving 20+ stitches per inch....other (more common) count only the stitches on top (achieving 10 stitches to the inch) it just depends on YOU and maybe who instructed you- either way is ok, correct. for those who count the top stitches it is the 'norm' for hand quilters to strive for 6-8 stitches per inch (which for those other people would mean 12-16 stitches per inch) it is generally better to concentrate on achieving nice- evenly spaced & evenly sized stitches instead of worrying about how many stitches there are- with practice they may be smaller- more to the inch- but the look, even(ness) and balance are going to be judged much more than the count.
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:56 AM
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You only count the stitches on one side of the quilt (either side, actually), and you count any which fall inside the inch; even a partial stitch within the inch gets counted.
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Old 05-30-2014, 04:26 AM
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As seldom as I hand quilt, I always tried to concentrate on the quality of the consistency of my stitches but I have heard people chat about the number of stitches per inch and I would always think NOT in my lifetime.
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Old 05-30-2014, 05:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Hinterland View Post
Top only, but frankly, I'd rather have even stitches, even if there are fewer of them.

Janet
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Old 05-30-2014, 05:28 AM
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Originally Posted by zennia View Post
Patricia, good question and Anael good link. I have always heard about stitch count and thought it was the front and the link makes a good point. Actually my stitches are to small,as one comment stated, and I am working on making them just a tad bigger.
Finally, I was able to make the tiny, tiny stitches and they looked just awful so I went back to my norm which is 8 stitches.
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