Gemm

I know there are a lot of opinions on this, but how long do you set your stitch length when piecing and why?

Because I often use thrifted fabrics, sometimes I have to pick stuff apart before I can use it, and today I found myself having to pick apart stitches that I could barely get my ripper into. I took a picture to count and there seem to be 16-17 stitches to the inch. I know I probably am a little too far along the other end of the stitch length spectrum for some of the small pieces I work with (usually 2.5-3 on my Brother - not sure what that translates to in stitches per inch) but is there an optimal stitch length that will prevent pieces coming apart but still let you rip out seams without damaging the fabric?

quiltedsunshine

I like my stitch length at 2.0. Unless I'm doing foundation paper piecing. Then I take it down to 1.75.

mkc

I use 1.80 for piecing.

Iceblossom

I use a tiny stitch because I use modern strip piecing methods and am often cutting through seams. I typically use a size 10 needle to piece, and my stitch length is 1.8-1.9. With my current round of vision issues, I can't really see the stitches and either have to learn to live with the mistakes or do them over with fresh cloth, taking out isn't an option.

I think most machines default at 2? That's ok especially with a size 12 needle. One of my friends used to dial her stitch length up "so it would be easier to take out" but that meant that basically ever end of every seam became loose or lost a couple of stitches, so instead of helping to deal with potential problems she created problems for herself.

LGJARN52

On my Janome machines the default stitch length is 2.2, but I usually move it up to 2.4 just in case I have to rip out a seam.

Mkotch

My Elna's default is 2.5, so that's what I use for piecing. It seems to be fine. I do lower my stitch length to 1.8 if I'm paper piecing.

Lena1952

2.0 is my default setting for piecing but my machine defaults to 2.5. It’s a small enough stitch length to keep stitches from coming apart easily but large enough that if I have to rip I can still see them.

Onebyone

I use one click under the 2 setting on my Juki. I prefer short stitches as I have no patience to back stitch each seam at the beginning and end. The seams never come apart at the ends while piecing. If I have to use a seam ripper it's not that hard and most times I will make another unit instead of ripping the seam out, if it is a small one.

Sewgood

I piece with a 1.5. I don't like my edges to come unseen as I work on the quilt. I've been doing it for so long that they don't seem small anymore.

bearisgray

My older pfaff default is 2.5 - I usually "sew" three or four air stitches between units and that seems to minimize unsewing of the units.

For strip piecing, i usually shorten the stitch length to 2.0.