OK, so I tried the in the ditch on my latest project (runner and centerpiece pad) with the Blackford’s Beauty patches. It was quite hideous and after ripping it all out I’ve decided to tack it, but I’d like to back tack it, that is knots in back rather than the front. Does anyone with experience with this method have any suggestions? I think embroidery thread should do, and small knots in back evenly spaced in the design (at all corners etc.), though I don’t really want to interrupt the patched pieces themselves; any thoughts on this?

I made a baby quilt that I tacked on the machine. I just loaded up the right color of thread and acted like I was sewing on a button. Worked great. It did show on the front but I did it so that it was like stitch in a ditch and you really can't see it unless you are really looking for it.

I tried to do this like regular tacking going from corner joint to corner joint, but with a patch this small it didn't have enough room between them and I ended up having to pull thread back so I could tie them. Still, it looked so much better than the machine quilting I had done. I guess what bothered me was the business of the quilting when I just wanted the patch to show off. In a way tacking is the most basic type of quilting I can think of, but as this shows, it does have its place.

Steve,
I'd do a web search for embroidery and quilting stitches. There are lots of tutorials out there. It's very difficult for me to describe it in words, my drawing ability is limited to stick figures, so I'm no help here. Sorry!

Sharon

Could you post a picture of the back tacking, I'm not quite sure what you are referring to? I'm curious to see it.