1st time machine quilting
 

I have not done machine quilting before, only hand quilting. I want to machine quilt, stitch in the ditch, and am not at all confident that I can do it. It is for my DGS, and is smaller than a twin. Can anyone give me some tips?
Thanks.

Like most things ... practice, practice, practice!
Perhaps make a place mat or two or some mug rugs to practice on? Or even just sew some scraps together and sandwich. For practicality, I like to make something though, instead of just sewing scraps that I intend to toss.


For me the SITD foot made a huge difference in staying in the ditch!
Also, go with a finer thread, as any mis-stitching is less noticeable.

If you don't feel good about SITD, what about stitching 1/4" (or less) from the seam line?

For me, SID is the hardest thing to do. That ditch is hard for me to stay in. I do better with things like cross hatching or echoing. I agree with the suggestion to test drive your skill on a placemat or a hot pad.

Also remember we are our own worse critics. Give it a go and it will be loved.

I agree, I find SID to be the hardest. Maybe it's because I'm so dang particular and just HAD to make sure the stitching landed perfectly in the ditch. I switched to quilting about a quarter inch out from the seams and felt much more relaxed. On certain quilts, such as 9-patches, sometimes I'll quilt straight lines running diagonally through the patches.

Thanks for all your suggestions and encouragement! The quilt is "Warm Wishes". I will have to turn it often. Do you have any other ideas?

For smaller quilts, I take a ruler to get a 45 degree angle. Any angle will work, I just like the 45. Then I use masking tape to make a straight line across the quilt. Then I decide how far apart I want the quilting to be, and go from there. I don't like a quilting foot, but I have the little bar that goes on the regular foot that I use for my spacing. I go in one direction all the way and then do the same thing again in the other direction, making a square of sort. If you have the wavey stitch on your machine, it makes it reall pretty. No one will know it the stitching lines are off. Good luck.

if you have one, use a walking foot. it does help. and sometimes STID is at best 1/4 or less from the seam. not in it. perhaps you could try place mats first for practice? and not too small of a stitch length makes your foot move easier if you do not use a walking foot.

I have a walking foot, but never used it. I think I better learn real quick because the back og the quilt is Minky!

Also I strongly suggest quilting gloves. They give you traction when moving the quilt and make it much easer to move it. I use "Machingers", but I've read that the gardening gloves with the rubber dots on the palms and fingertips work well also.
Also, keep your hands spread open on either side of the line you're stitching to keep the piece taut as you stitch.