Thread: Straight line quilting on machine, do you backstitch?

I guess I am the obsessive one here. I tie off all my beginning and ending threads and bury the knot between the layers.

i have learned the hard way to sew around the entire edge of the quilt before quilting on my machine. The seam ends tend to come out all by themselves, especially the quilt has many, many pieces. I really stink at hand sewing of any kind...

Originally Posted by cathyvv

i have learned the hard way to sew around the entire edge of the quilt before quilting on my machine. The seam ends tend to come out all by themselves, especially the quilt has many, many pieces. I really stink at hand sewing of any kind...

This is what I am so afraid of because the parts are small and paper pieced with whip sitch pressed open. It is good to know so many don't backstitch! I think in this case I may run around the edge once because it may be more fragile than some. Thank you all! Merry Christmas!

Originally Posted by thimblebug6000

Ah.... well that's a different question Once a top is complete I stay stitch all around the outside edge just inside the ¼" mark...you don't want your seams to start opening along the edges. Then I make the quilt sandwich and start to quilt.

I agree and always do this.
Then again, I *have* to do this because it takes forever for me to get around to doing the quilting as I'm the sort of quilter who enjoys seeing how all the colors work together more than finishing a project.....there are many great artists who left work unfinished and nobody denies their genius!!

Jan in VA

Originally Posted by Jan in VA

I agree and always do this.
Then again, I *have* to do this because it takes forever for me to get around to doing the quilting as I'm the sort of quilter who enjoys seeing how all the colors work together more than finishing a project.....there are many great artists who left work unfinished and nobody denies their genius!!

Jan in VA

Jan! I am so happy to hear you say this! I have several friends that we get together to quilt...sometimes we actually make the same little wallhanging! I have been quilting off and on for 30 years, most of them only a year or two. They often are rushing to get it done....sometimes at the loss of technique. They are always giving me a hard time about not finishing projects. But I do! It's just that sometimes I like mine to sit awhile and I may change colors, design or borders etc as I am "creating". To me it is the process I so enjoy! They do not understand that and think I'm a little off!
sorry I hijacked the thread! To answer, I do not back tack when I'm running it off the edges because I know my edge finish will take care of that.