frannella

I am increasingly encountering the suggestion that one start/stop quilting stitches in the 'extra' batting and backing border off the quilt top to secure the threads. I am seeing this in Ruler Work and Walking Foot videos especially. While it may not matter on the practice samples featured in the videos, what happens to the security of one's quilting stitches after a quilt top is eventually squared and trimmed up? Will sewing the binding on secure those cut lines of thread or does one run the risk of the quilting threads unraveling?

The reason I ask is on analogy with chain piecing and/or trimming sewn blocks to size. Even though we are told that cross stitching will secure your stitches, in my experience that is not necessarily true. Nothing worse than unraveling blocks in one's piece work--unless it is losing your quilting stitches.

If you start and stop quilting stitches in the extra batting and backing, especially if you make bed quilts subject to tugging and washing as I do, how have your quilting stitches held up? Many thanks.