What if you have too many stitches per inch?
If you have too many stitches per inch, your gauge is too tight. To fix this, try using larger needles. Larger needles will make larger stitches, and your gauge will be looser. If larger needles don't seem to fix the problem, you might actually need to switch to thicker yarn.
If your yarn lists a gauge of 20 stitches and 25 rows over a 4 x 4 square, this means that there are 5 stitches per inch. Simply divide the number of stitches over 4 inches (20) by 4 to determine the number of stitches per inch.
As the table from the top of this post illustrates, sport-weight yarn typically has a gauge range of 22 – 26 stitches = 4″ (or 5.5 – 6.5 stitches per inch) with a recommended needle size of US 3-5. This swatch is knit on a US 7 needle and the gauge measures 20 stitches = 4″ (or 5 stitches per inch).
Worsted Weight This is what is often considered ordinary knitting yarn. The gauge is roughly 5 stitches per inch on a size 7 or 8 needle. Some worsted may give a gauge of 4 or 4 1/2 stitches per inch and be knit on a 8 or 9. We consider these “heavy worsteds”.
Usually 8 to 10 spi is adequate to provide adequate seam strength and at the same time allow for quicker cycle times . More stitches per inch will help minimize seam grinning. Due to many of the operations being lockstitch, usually 10 – 12 spi is required to provide adequate seam strength.
One way to fix extra stitches is by reducing the overall stitch count. It's not so much a fix as it is a bandaid, but if you've added just one or two stitches, it can work in a pinch. This is how it works: For every one stitch that is added, work one K2tog (knit two together) to reduce by one stitch.
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.
14 stitches per inch (approx 5,4 per cm). This is the most populair Aida count. Aida 14 count fabric is made by little squares of 5 threads in both directions and four clearly visible holes at the corners.
Stitches per Inch (spi)
Quite simply stated a setting of 12 stitches per inch is exactly that. Your sewing machine lays down 12 stitches for every inch of fabric that is pulled through by the feed dogs.
To go the opposite direction, if a pattern requests 10 stitches per inch, divide 25.4 by 10 to get the millimeter setting of 2.5.
How many inches is 25 stitches?
| Stitch Count | 6 ct | 22 ct |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 4 | 1 1/8 |
| 25 | 4 1/8 | 1 1/8 |
| 26 | 4 3/8 | 1 1/8 |
| 27 | 4 1/2 | 1 1/4 |
If the grid is not available, a quick approximation of stitches can be found with this simple equation: Multiply the length by the width then multiply of 2. That will give you the amount of 1,000 stitches. For example: 11/2” x 2” logo would be 1.5 x 2 = 3 then 3 x 2 = 6.
A gauge of 18 sts/24 rows has a ratio of 3 to 4; a gauge of 20 sts/28 rows has a ratio of 5 to 7. The ratio tells you how many stitches to pick up over how many rows—in the first example, 3 stitches in 4 rows, in the second 5 stitches in 7 rows. As you work across, you'll skip loops/stitches on the edge.
A setting of about 2.5 mm is 10 stitches per inch. I tend to use a 3 mm (about 8 stitches per inch) for most straight stitching on midweight fabric because it's easier to pick out.
The stockinette stitch (or stocking stitch in the UK) is formed by one row of knit stitches, one row of purl stitches. Learning the stockinette / stocking stitch is a great next step once you've learned how to knit and purl. It can be used for everything from sweaters and cardigans, to bags, hats and socks.
Calculation in inches:
30 x 16 (30 multiplied by 16, divided by 4) Result: 120 stitches.
For piecing, 2.0 mm or about 13 stitches-per-inch is preferred. The default stitch length (what the machine automatically sets to) is usually longer than 2.0 mm. I recommend that quilters reset it to 2.0 mm for piecing, or to about 13 stitches-per-inch.
Standard stitch length: Refers to a 2.5 mm stitch length. Commonly used for regular seams when assembling two pieces of fabric.
A dropped stitch looks like this: a loose stitch with strands of yarn above it. To begin rescuing the dropped stitch, spread out all the stitches on your needle so that the loose strands of yarn above the dropped stitch are stretched out and clearly visible.
It's quite simple to calculate how many increases/decreases you need to make. All you have to do is divide the current number of stitches by the number to be increased/decreased.
What stitch length is 15 stitches per inch?
A machine's stitch length of 1.6 would equal 15 stitches per inch.
The number of squares per inch determines the count of the fabric. For example, 14-count Aida has 14 squares per inch, which means stitching on it will give you 14 stitches per inch.
Average – 6 stitches per inch. Accomplished – 8 stitches per inch. Expert – 10 stitches per inch. Professional – 12 stitches per inch.
1 solid square inch of embroidery equals approximately 2,000 stitches. 1 solid square 1/4 inch of embroidery will equal about 125 stitches. No letter should be smaller than 3/16″ each letter 1/4″ in height equals about 100 stitches. Drop shadows in your logo will translate to 200 extra stitches per inch.
If you are stitching at 7 stitches per inch (SPI), the stitch length will be 3.85mm, this is the distance from centre of hole to centre of hole. If you are stitching at 10 SPI your Stitch Size will be 2.7mm.
