raksmum

I am ready to start quilting a "wheel of mystery" or some call it "wandering ways" quilt. The instructions say to stitch in the ditch.
I have only done stitch in the ditch on a straight line. These "ditches" are in a circle. Can I still use a walking foot if I am going around a curve or do I have to free motion?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

zyxquilts

I think you can still use your walking foot - just go at a comfortable speed for you to make the curves without "spinning out" :wink:

fabricluvr

i haven't had much luck using my walking foot in circles. i guess it depends on the size of the circle. when i tried it i got puckers/pulls on the backing. i might not have been doing it properly, though.

mary quite contrary

Unless you are really really good I'd stick with the walking foot and walk slow. You may have to lift your foot periodically to make the turns. Where are the pictures? :)

arbee65

If you can free-motion, then that's the way to go for sure, but if not, then the walking foot still works. If you have a knee-lift, definitely use it. That will make it a whole lot easier.

bearisgray

Do you have a "needle down" feature on your sewing machine?

When you lift the presser foot to turn
the fabric, make sure the needle is in the fabric.

raksmum

Thanks for the tips everyone. I am not really, really good at free motion so I will use the walking foot and go slow. I do have a needle down position so will use that along with the knee lift.

This could take a while but will post pics when I'm done. Thanks again!! :)

Izy

If you have an open toe foot, and can reduce your foot pressure you can quilt carefully around curves, like I did in these pictures :D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/5759.page

I would practice first :D

arbee65

Open toe is great to see. My walking foot has one :)

Ruth

raksmum

Thanks Izy and Ruth. I do have an open toe and find it hard to see with the walking foot sometimes. I will try the open toe and yes, I will do a practice run. I have a few extra blocks so will use those.
Thanks Izy, for the link to your pictures.