JellyRoll With Stitch The Ditch
#4
Hi Angel, welcome to the board!
I roll the quilt in from each side, using large clips to hold the quilt from unrolling (look on the internet for them i bought mine years ago, but they are still available). Leave a 10 to 12 inch section in the center of the quilt to work on. Start quilting in the very center, work to the top, and then go back to the center and work to the bottom. Roll out one side to give you another 12" to work on, taking up the area finished with the other roll. Continue quilting this way until one side is finished, re-roll and go back to center and start working to the other edge.
By starting in the very center of the quilt there is less chance of catching a bump in the back. You are always smoothing the fabric and checking. If you have a very large quilt, you can rest the rolled edge you are not quilting on top of your shoulders. Helps to carry the weight of the quilt from not pulling the fabric on the machine.
Hope this makes sense, I've machine quilted this way for 30 years
Here is a small visual of how I roll and the center area for quilting. Try it on a small wallhanging or table runner to get the hang of it.
Good luck
Pat
.[ATTACH=CONFIG]577944[/ATTACH]
I roll the quilt in from each side, using large clips to hold the quilt from unrolling (look on the internet for them i bought mine years ago, but they are still available). Leave a 10 to 12 inch section in the center of the quilt to work on. Start quilting in the very center, work to the top, and then go back to the center and work to the bottom. Roll out one side to give you another 12" to work on, taking up the area finished with the other roll. Continue quilting this way until one side is finished, re-roll and go back to center and start working to the other edge.
By starting in the very center of the quilt there is less chance of catching a bump in the back. You are always smoothing the fabric and checking. If you have a very large quilt, you can rest the rolled edge you are not quilting on top of your shoulders. Helps to carry the weight of the quilt from not pulling the fabric on the machine.
Hope this makes sense, I've machine quilted this way for 30 years
Here is a small visual of how I roll and the center area for quilting. Try it on a small wallhanging or table runner to get the hang of it.
Good luck
Pat
.[ATTACH=CONFIG]577944[/ATTACH]
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 985
I have found that stitching in the ditch is not a great way to quilt, especially for a beginner. Why not try some straight line quilting 1/4" to 1/2" from the seams? I think that would be easier to start with. Just a suggestion...
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 4,144
Beginning quilts always want to start with quilting in the ditch. Personally I have a hard time staying in the ditch! I teach them to enlarge the stitch and quilt, running the edge of the foot against the ditch. Have to take it slow and not try to race thru the quilting.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,869
The other thing you can do so that you don't have to have pins and worry about it shifting all the time is to use a spray baste. I also agree that stitching in the ditch is the first time quilter can be a little daunting as you have to be perfectly straight. Going out a quarter inch from the seam will also show off your blocks
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
When people say to start in the "middle" of the quilt - in ditch stitching, that means to start at the edge of the middle row. I ditch with an open toe foot. That way I can see where the needle will land and I can use both hands (on either side of the seam) to gently tug the seam and REALLY see the low side of the seam.
#9
I agree with Faintly Artistic. I like to quilt beside the ditch 1/4". Another favorite way is to quilt on the diagonal using the blue painters tape to mark my sewing line. Then just pick up the tape and place it again for the next line of quilting. That is the method for use most often when I quilt on my domestic sewing machine. Easy!
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,827
For a very traditional look 1/4" from the seam is great.
For modern and art quilts, I like stitch in the ditch in some places. Berninas have a foot that guides the fabric and open up the ditch to made keeping it there easier.
For modern and art quilts, I like stitch in the ditch in some places. Berninas have a foot that guides the fabric and open up the ditch to made keeping it there easier.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
AngelinaMaria
Main
26
12-06-2012 12:02 PM