§ GLOSSARY · STITCH DENSITY
STITCH DENSITY
How tightly stitches are packed together, measured as the spacing between adjacent stitch lines.
Embroidery vocabularyPlain-English definition
WHAT IT MEANS
Density is the number of stitches per millimeter (or the inverse spacing) within a fill or satin. Higher density means more thread, more weight, longer run times, and more needle perforations of the fabric. Lower density saves time and thread but risks show-through and gappy edges.
WHEN IT MATTERS
Density mismatched to the fabric is the single biggest cause of puckering and needle damage. A dense fill that works on canvas will rip a knit.
SEE ALSO