How to Change the Stitch Length on a Sewing Machine

Stitch length is one of the most important settings on your sewing machine.

It is important to adjust the tension, style and length of your stitches in order to get the proper performance from your sewing machine. Stitch length is generally set on a scale of zero to four on modern sewing machines, which is a measurement of stitches per millimeter. Different fabrics need different stitch lengths to ensure the stitches are durable and do not pucker the fabric. The thinest of fabrics need stitches between zero and two, with medium weight fabrics between two and three and the heaviest fabrics between three and four. Note that a stitch length of zero is impossible to set on some machines and will not result in any stitch. Adjusting stitch length will vary slightly from machine to machine.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Look at the front of your sewing machine. On the right side, you should see a dial or lever with a scale numbered zero to four.

2. Consider the thickness of your fabric and determine the proper setting. Move the dial or lever to this area.

3. Sew a series of stitches on a scrap piece of the fabric. Inspect the stitches and ensure they are taut and do not pull the fabric inappropriately. Readjust and test again as necessary.

References

• The Sewing Partner: Sewing Stitch Adjustments
• Sew 4 Home: Selecting Machine Stitch Length