When you use a template for ruler work, you need to make sure you have your wider ruler base on and you are using a long arm template, not a rotary cutting template or ruler. The template needs to be held half a foot width away from the line you want to quilt. THis does take practice. Put the needle down in the place where you want to start your stitching, slide the ruler up to the foot, and make it parallel to the line you want to stitch, then go slowly. For SITD, I find a shorter guide, like about 6" works best because to follow a stitch line you will need to keep adjusting.
What kind of machine do you have? Some machines have wheel locks that you can use to stitch in straight horizontal and vertical lines, but you can use small clamps if your manufacturer doesn't make them. Very quick, but if you haven't loaded the quilt perfectly straight or the piecing is off, the quilting lines may not match up.
Last edited by PaperPrincess; 08-19-2016 at 04:00 AM.