Originally Posted by QuiltSage
I don't think anyone would stitch in the ditch by hand. The point is to hide the ugly machine stitches. You want the pretty hand stitches to show. Instead, hand quilters would stitch 1/4 inch in from the seam.
You would be very surprised how many quilters here do stitch in the ditch by hand - because they WANT to hide the quilting! Another reason seems to be that they are afraid the quilting lines will destroy the effect and look of the piecing. I don't know who ever told them such a thing.