Ok, so when my Mom taught me to use a sewing machine She taught me to 'anchor' the stitches at the start and end by doing a few backward stitches when you start and finish any line (back -tacking?)

When I did a baby quilt and echo quilted inside each of the patchwork squares, I did this, because I knew there wouldn't be any overlapping seams to anchor the start and end of the stitching. Is this the correct way to secure the start and end of your stitching when you are starting to sew in the middle of a quilt? Is it really necessary as I didn't like the way the overlapped stitching showed as a bit thicker than the rest of the line?

I hope I have explained my query ok, as always your help would be appreciated

well, it takes a lot longer but if you start in the middle somewhere it's a good idea to bring the bobbin thread up and then tie the two threads... or bring it up, hold both and take a few stitches IN PLACE - don't move back and forth

if you really (yea right) want to get gung ho you could use a needle to bury those two threads...

I do not back stitch while doing the actual quilting. I am not sure about others though.

You need to anchor the stitches somehow. I didn't do this on my first quilt and the stitches are pulling out and it hasn't been a well used quilt either. A couple stitches right in place is usually the best/easiest.

:(

As a new quilter all of your answers were very helpful to me too....Thanks. I am in the midst of taking out (with a seam ripper) quilting, because I did just that...stitched back and forth to secure....didn't like the look at all....On top of that I used a darker thread...So, I have got to fix it...

I have the locking stitch built in but I don't like it as it produces a knot on the back...what I discovered is if you use it at the end of a line of stitching BUT only let it do three locking stitches - when you start your next line of stitching it will do the remaining three at the beginning, so apart from your initial starting point your quilting is secure and as a extra precaution I DO thread all the ends into a needle and bury them for as long as I can reach with a needle, a pain but you get a much neater finish. I do bring up the bobbin thread to start as otherwise you can get a 'birds nest' underneath, messy and hard work to correct afterwards :D

This is very helpful to me...Thanks

I hope I explained it well enough Nancee...if not just shout and I will go through it again more clearly :wink: :lol:

It makes perfect since...Thanks. See, I am already learning stuff here.

Thanks Izy, for the tips on the locking stitch. I used it all the time and don't like the build-up on the back. I WILL use the tip about the 3 and 3. You're a genius. I also will try the "hand needle" techinique of burying the tails.