Stitches

What to 'stitch' in the idiom "A stitch in time saves nine"?

"A stitch in time saves nine" means if you rectify a small problem in time you can avert a major problem.or simply nip it in the bud. In the idiom what you have to stitch? @Anna What is nine?

Public Comments

1. Anything fabric that has a hole or a rip in it- it's as plain-faced as it sounds - stitch the hole or rip up now to save having to do more stitching later. In response to your further question, the nine refers to nine more stitches. It is very simple - it comes from the fact if something, as in this idiom, an item of clothing, has been torn, if you stitch it up straight away it will save the tear becoming bigger and needing more stitches (nine - it's just a number that is larger than one) to repair it in the future. It can, and is, applied to all sorts of situations, not just a rip in some fabric - this is merely how the saying originated.
2. stitch represents rectification of fault before it evolves into a major error that cannot be handled.
3. Stitch or rectify the problem itself ..... duh !!!!
4. stitch means one of the small lines of thread that you can see on a piece of cloth after it has been sewn; In the idiom anything that requires repair or needs a stitch to keep the thing intact. suppose a cloth is slightly damaged and a stitch covers it. If it is not done in time it may grow big in use and may need many more stitches(indicated by the biggest single digit number nine ).
5. Anna has answered your query perfectly. 'nine' stitches so that it rhymes with 'time'.