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I learned something today about stitch length and sewing machine settings.
I’ve had machines with “stitches per inch” and I understood that. I’ve had machines with metric settings like 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and so on, and I thought I understood that—I knew what the setting needed to be for various types of stitching.
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But until today, I really didn’t understand how the two types of settings related to one another. I guess I had never really thought much about it. I had an “aha!” moment.
It’s easy to understand what “stitches per inch” means. The setting tells you how many stitches there are in one inch. If the setting is 15, it means there are 15 stitches in one inch.
It’s a little less evident what the metric settings like 2.5 mean. They refer to the length of each stitch. If the setting is 2.5, it means that every stitch is 2.5 millimeters long.
So you see, when you compare the different types of settings, you aren’t comparing apples to apples, so to speak. How do you make sense of it? Turns out there’s an easy formula!
There are 25.4 millimeters in one inch. The formula is this:
25.4 divided by the metric length of the stitch such as 2.5 equals the number of stitches per inch.
Here’s an example. To figure out how many stitches per inch a 2.5 metric setting will give you,
25.4 divided by 2.5 = 10.16 stitches per inch.
To figure it the other way, in case you need to sew 10 stitches per inch and want to know the metric setting, do this:
25.4 divided by 10 = 2.5.
If you needed to sew 15 stitches per inch, 25.4 divided by 15 = 1.69, round up to 1.7 for the metric setting. Easy Peasy!
While doing this research, I had another light bulb moment. When you adjust the stitch length, you aren’t telling the needle to do something different, you’re telling the feed dogs to do something different. The various settings tell the feed dogs how much fabric to feed before another stitch is made. I found this helpful explanation at sewing.about.com:
- Shortening the stitch length shortens the amount of fabric that is fed under the presser foot before the needle comes down.
- Lengthening the stitch length lengthens the amount of fabric that is fed under the presser foot before the needle comes down.
It all makes perfect sense now!
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A post after my own heart :0) Great use of formulas :0)
– ((A quilter who is also a Middle School Math teacher)).
Informative post! I always did relate the (metric) stitch length setting to what the stitch looked like, so glad to know I was on track about that. But it’s good to know how that transates into stitches per inch. This one goes in the reference binder. Thanks!
Wow, good information! I too thought I understood what was happening when I adjusted the stitch length. Now it makes much more sense. Wonder if we Americans will ever get a handle on metrics….
I plan to share this with students in my quilting classes.
Your posts always contain very useful information. Thanks!
Great info! I like knowing the formula’s.
Thanks!
Good information! It would also be helpful to know when to use a longer stitch vs a shorter stitch (besides how it looks).
Thanks!
thanks ; I guess I really didn’t understand it all the way either ; after all I’ve only been sewing for more than 40 years !! ha ha … good info and I’m bookmarking and filing it !!
This really is helpful. I have a Bernina machine in which I do have latitude in how I vary or set an awful lot of things and this info will really help!
give me good ole stitches per inch! This mm stuff didn’t make it in our schools so none of us had to learn it.
Very intuitive. When it comes to metrics I am lost. I guess I’m just old school.
It is all about the feed dogs, baby. All about the feed dogs. I am sure there is a metaphor in there…!
Lightbulb moment,never thought about the feed dogs having anything to do with stitch length.It so makes sense.I guess I just take things for granted and keep on sewing.Thanks for the info.
What a wonderful article. Thank you very much for taking the time to educate us on the difference between english and metric measurements, as well as how (for me) to make better stitch selections in my projects. Especially for the decorative stitches!!
Helpful info. Thanks
Thanks, this does make sense. I never pay attention to it before, now it explains lots.
Sorry, it should say paid instead of pay.
I hate math, I’m an eyeballer! I judge length of stitch in reference to the type of material that I’m using. I’m short, so most of my sewing is hemming things, even things that are suppose to be petite. I’m going to be regular height in heaven.
Nice to know that the ALGEBRA and Math word problems we took as kids comes in handy!
Never would have thought back then it could have been used for fun!
Maybe now I can set the stitch on any machine! Who would know? Thanks for the info.
Thanks! What a simple explanation. I too like formulas so I can figure out a logical way to do things. Now it will be simple to find the right setting for the right stitch per inch.
This is great, especially for beginners. Thank you!
Thanks for the info! This will help me! I hate math…but I like this math problem for sure!
Good information. I’ve been sewing for years and did not know the info you provided. Thanks for sharing it!
Hi. Great info. But, why can’t someone make a chart showing 11 stitches per inch = ?.? metric setting. That would make it so much easier. I have looked on many sites and no one not even Janome has a chart to help us inchers out.
Thank you, thank you!!!!!! I know I have read this a thousand times but never before took the time to learn. Now, with quilting, I will remember. I have put a note up on my bulletin board. (I feel so smart now.)
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I always thought that stitch length was how long or short a stitch you wanted to have. Never realized it was the feed dog. Interesting.
Thank you, thank you. I am working on curved piecing and REALLY needed this information…stitches per inch, of course, but the feed dog information was even more relevant.
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11 stitches per inch is 2.3 mm (25.4 / 11 – 2.3)
Great info – thank you for sharing.
When sewing pieces together for a block (cotton) what stitch length is used?
When sewing a “scant” 1/4″ seam how much is a scant – 6.0 or 6.5?
Thank you
Hi Bonnie, thanks for your questions. For piecing with cotton, I set my stitch length to 2.0. If the pieces are very tiny, sometimes I go even shorter. I’m surprised at how much more stable the seams are. For width of a scant quarter-inch, I would go with 6 mm. Good luck with all your piecing!
Interesting article, thanks! Now if you can tell me how the heck I can “un-sew” these smaller stitches easily, I’ll be all set !!! Today’s seam rippers are just too fat for the small stitches.
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I’ve a very green sewer (is that right?), and I’m trying to replace a zipper in a great leather jacket I found at Goodwill. I knew I would need a longer stitch length, but I was hoping to sew into the original holes if possible. This formula is exactly what I need and I think I’ll get close. Wish me luck, and thanks so much!
I wonder how a walking foot is affected by changing stitch length. Since the feeds on that foot seem to move based on needle movement, I assume it wouldn’t change. Maybe that’s why I’m having so many issues sewing on my ruffles with my walking foot!?