Этот стежок ровный.

In Russian, the verb to be is normally omitted in the present tense.

So:

• Этот стежок ровный = This stitch is even / straight
• literally: This stitch even

This is completely normal Russian.

You only usually see to be in other tenses, for example:

• Этот стежок был ровный = This stitch was even
• Этот стежок будет ровный = This stitch will be even

Этот means this.

It changes form to match the noun it goes with. Стежок is masculine singular, so you use этот.

Compare:

• этот стежок = this stitch
• эта строчка = this line / this stitch line
• это место = this place
• эти стежки = these stitches

So этот is used because стежок is a masculine noun.

Because ровный is an adjective agreeing with стежок.

Since стежок is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative

the adjective also takes the masculine singular nominative form:

• ровный

Other forms would be:

• ровная for feminine
• ровное for neuter
• ровные for plural

So the ending shows agreement, just like этот does.

They are in the nominative case.

• этот стежок is the subject: this stitch
• ровный is a predicate adjective describing the subject

So the sentence structure is basically:

• [subject] + [adjective]
• Этот стежок ровный

This is why you see the basic dictionary forms here.

No, not exactly.

Этот стежок ровный

This is a full sentence:

• This stitch is even

Here ровный is the predicate: it tells you something about the stitch.

Этот ровный стежок

This is just a noun phrase:

• this even stitch

It is not a complete sentence by itself.

So the difference is:

• Этот стежок ровный = statement
• Этот ровный стежок = description inside a noun phrase

That is a very important distinction in Russian.

Ровный is a flexible word. Depending on context, it can mean:

• even
• straight
• smooth
• level
• regular

With стежок, it usually means something like:

• even
• neat
• regular
• sometimes straight

So in sewing or embroidery, ровный стежок often suggests a stitch that is neat and well-formed, not crooked or irregular.

It is a broader word than English straight.

Стежок means a stitch, usually a single stitch in sewing, embroidery, or similar work.

A useful contrast:

• стежок = one stitch
• шов = a seam / line of stitching

So if you are talking about one individual stitch, стежок is the right word.

The stress is:

• Э́тот
• стежо́к
• ро́вный

So:

Э́тот стежо́к ро́вный.

A rough pronunciation guide:

• этот ≈ EH-tuht
• стежок ≈ styi-ZHOK
• ровный ≈ ROV-nyy

A few notes:

• ж sounds like the s in measure
• the o in stressed syllables is pronounced clearly: -жо́к, ро́в-
• the final -ый in ровный is not like English ee; it is a Russian vowel sound

Yes, Russian word order is flexible, but the neutral order here is:

• Этот стежок ровный.

This is the most natural way to say This stitch is even.

Other orders are possible, but they add emphasis or sound marked. For example:

• Ровный этот стежок.
  This sounds more emphatic, like This stitch is even with contrast or special focus.

So as a learner, it is best to use:

• Этот стежок ровный.

Yes.

• Стежок ровный. = The stitch is even / A stitch is even, depending on context

Adding этот makes it more specific:

• Этот стежок ровный. = This stitch is even

So этот is useful when you are pointing out a particular stitch.

No. Normally, no dash is used here.

The standard sentence is:

• Этот стежок ровный.

Russian sometimes uses a dash in present-tense sentences without to be, but not in ordinary sentences like this one with a predicate adjective.

So for this sentence, just write:

• Этот стежок ровный.

without a dash.

In theory, a short form exists, but in modern everyday Russian ровный is the normal choice here.

So:

• Этот стежок ровный. = natural, standard

A short-form version would sound unusual, literary, or old-fashioned in this context.

For learners, the important point is:

• use ровный, not ровен, in normal speech here.