Good Morning!
I have my first D9P sandwiched and would like opinions on best way to machine quilt. Stitch in the Ditch, stippling???? This will be my first on machine quilting, have practiced a bit in classes a while back and have forgotten most of what I learned...:( When using the walking foot and going diagonal and such do you start in the middle of the quilt or up top? If doing SID do you start in the middle? And would you use walking foot or fmq foot? Thank you for your advice!

thank you so much for asking this question. I am just at this point myself with my first top. I would value any advice - I had thought of trying to hand quilt mine but an not very proficent yet and have quite sever arthritis in my hands but at the same time, like you, I am unsure about how to go about machine quilting it.

Stippling would be FMQ and would use the foot for that.

SID is generally a walking foot but some people have good luck with zipper feet or special SID feet. Personally, my SID is never actually IN the ditch. I tend to always be off a bit. I drive the sewing machine like I'm drunk as soon as I try SID!

You will get many answers regarding where to start. I think most people start in the middle to push any fullness toward the edges, but some people start from one side. I start at the middle in hopes of getting fewer puckers.

It's all kind of a learning process. Listen to all the advice and then give it a go. What works for one person beautifully may not be what you want to do.

If you are going to stipple, that will be FMQ and require feed dogs down and the darning foot.

If you are going to stitch in the ditch, it'll be a walking foot.

No matter which way you decide to quilt it, it is best if you start in the middle and work your way out.

What I have done on some D9Ps is SID around the whole D9P block creating a little grid on the back, then I went back over it with the darning foot and stippled and doodled in one block at a time. It was pretty fun.

Along with all the other advice I have one hint. I do alot of stitch in the ditch for donation quilts. Remember to turn your quilt around at the end of a row and stitch back the opposite direction for your next row. Just like sewing strips together, it will lay better for you. Just my two cents worth. :)

It seems to me that you need the walking foot any time you are sewing straight rows. If the stitching is curved then you need to lower the feed dogs and use the quilting/darning foot. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Sue

Very well stated...great advise!

It depends on your machine. I need the walking foot to SITD with my Elna, but not my Singer 301. With the 301, I just released the pressure on the presser foot a little and used my SITD foot. That little thing is a big help. I do start in the center. I only did SITD on my D9P, but I just did another pattern and mixed SITD and FMQ, which I like.

straight lines (stitch in the ditch/ cross hatch ect) use a walking foot- feed dogs up--
free motion quilting (stippling meandering, ect) use a free motion (darning) foot- feed dogs down

Ditto!

I like this idea :)

On large quilts I always start in the middle, both lengthwise and crosswise. Only on baby size quilts I start at the top in the center.
I can't stay in the ditch so, I sew about a 1/4" away from the seam line. For me I think it looks much neater that way. I don't quilt many this way, I usually do a large meandering.

I recently made a D9P quilt to donate. I needed to get it done quickly. Used warm & natural, quilted diagonally thru connecting blocks. Then quilted on point blocks where the rectangles connect. I used walking foot/acu feed. Here is the pictures: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-115789-1.htm

Makes sense...thanks for advice.

I have attached a pic of my first D9P. It isn't a bedsize quilt, but hope my suggestion helps. I have a stencil of a large daisy type flower and I started in the center and used pounce to evenly put the flowers on. After I quilted the flowers, I went back and just did a large meander between them to add a little more quilting. I lke the way it came out. I think the method is called "twice quilting" or something like that. I am still in the practice stage of machine quilting. Another option might be to free hand a small 5-petal flower and meander a little bit and put another one and fill the quilt that way. That is what I am trying on another quilt right now and I am liking that look.

I always start in the middle and do a quarter of the quilt at a time. I wouldn't even consider starting at the side or top unless I had a long arm and frame.

Hope this helps.

Since you are a beginner, I would quilt diagonally using masking or painters' tape to mark the line. Baste well first using pins and start at a corner. I find if it's well basted, you don't have to start in the center. Makes it easier to handle in a home sewing machine.

My SID always looks like I had tee martoonies no matter what foot I use. I have gone to stippling with much better results.

If it is a gentle curve you could still use your walking foot.
Just can't ue it to quilt in many, changing directions, such as stippling or meandering.

Donna, I'm so glad that I read this thread and looked at your quilt. It is beautiful and shows me just what to do on a simple quilt that I made and need to finish right away. Thanks all who answered this question! :-D

I, too, cannot do a good SITD so I prefer the quarter inch outline stitch. I like the way this looks and it gives a nice pattern on the back.
I start in the center and work my way out to each side then to the top and bottom. Next I fill in the corners going out from the center, in this way working any fullness to the outsides.

Thanks for asking this question I am about ready to machine quilt for the first time

My method seems contrary to others - I stitch all around the outside and work in toward the middle when I machine quilt and when I hand quilt, I either quilt as I go or start in the middle and work out. It works out fine because I'm meticulous about having the stuff squared and basted properly before I start. My first few attempts to work the other way ended in puckers.

I agree. I have done alot of FMQ and I always start in the middle, even on borders. Have fun. :D

don't forget the wonderful serpentine stitch for SID. you just float over the seam & it goes super fast. no worry about getting right in the ditch. I use this for utility quilts and charity quilts.

I actually did an X in each box, so it comes out like a grid, really
turned out nice.

I just finished a D9P, crib size.. SID would let you sew for long runs without stopping. Unfortunately I started, and continued sewing 1/4 in on all the blocks. That left me with 4 threads to tie and bury for each block. Not good idea. Then in the center of the large blocks I freehanded a star--more threads to tie and bury. Thank goodness it is only crib size. I'd SID if i were to do it again.

Thank you all for the info. I have tried but get too many puckers on the back. So, I hand quilt. Now I'll try again using your suggestions.

I did the diagonal thing on mine. I started in one corner until I got to an edge, turned the quilt 90 degrees and just kept going.

A friend hand tacked her D9P and it looked good. I am sorry I did not take a picture of it.