Stitch Length
#4
I use 2.4 stitch length - which is 2.4mm long - for piecing and with my walking foot for quilting. It holds together pretty well. It’s a bit of a pain to undo (which I do frequently). It rarely comes apart unless I’ve been rough with a piece or it’s had a lot of handling. I sometimes overstitch if the edge of two pieces have come apart - I did that 3 times on the baby quilt I’m making now.
I’m a beginner quilter though so wait for someone who knows what theY are talking about to reply but this works for me.
I’m a beginner quilter though so wait for someone who knows what theY are talking about to reply but this works for me.
Last edited by paddingtonbear; 02-02-2024 at 11:36 AM.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,307
My machine has a walking foot built in so I've been using one for more than ten years and never thought about whether or not the stitch length should be different just because of the walking foot. Why should it be? I adjust stitch length depending on what I'm doing; a longer length when quilting and a shorter length when paper piecing. Sometimes I adjust because of the thread, but never thought of the walking foot making a difference. I'm interested in hearing from the experts on this!
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,401
Some sewing manual and some sewing machines with sewing advisors built in, will indicate what stitch length to use. For example, my Bernina 475 will automatically use a 2.5 length stitch for sewing construction, a 2.0 length stitch for piecing, and a 3.0 length stitch for quilting. I don't think using a walking foot would make much difference if you are doing the same thing. I do use a walking foot when quilting and yep, I just usually use a longer stitch for that.
My Bernina has a ? button that I can use to tell me what the stitch is and what it is used for. And I do have a separate quilting and utility menu to pick from.
My Bernina has a ? button that I can use to tell me what the stitch is and what it is used for. And I do have a separate quilting and utility menu to pick from.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 366
I don't use a walking foot. I do use a 2.0 length for piecing and do hand quilting. I wonder if a 2.0 is the same for all machines. Seems like there'd be a chart of stitch length to number somewhere. I'll have to do a test and see if 2.0 is the same for all of my machines.
#9
My machine has built in computerized settings, my 1/4" setting stitch length is 1.8. My needle centered is a 2.4 stitch length. I sometimes lengthen the center setting when FMQ to 2.8 or 3.0, depending on the color of the thread and the effect I am going for.