FMQ vs. Stitch in the Ditch
 

When you do an overall design in FMQ, do you still stitch in the ditch on the quilt? Sometimes I find that when I stitch in the ditch, the design is distorted somewhat even using the even feed foot. Thanks for your responses.

I do mostly all over designs so not much SID. I spray baste and haven't noticed much shifting even when quilting individual blocks.

Usually I STID in the between blocks or sashing and then mark a stencil for my FMQ. Just my preference, but I am not a fan of stippling.

When you say the design is distorted, do you mean the FMQ design? I think the SITD is usually done first.

I haven't done SITD when using an allover design. It seems like it would ruin the effect of the allover FMQ design on the quilt back.

I usually STID at least a couple of rows the length and width of the quilt before I do an all over design. On some quilts I've done STID around all blocks before FMQ. Since I do my quilting on my DSM I want to be sure it is stable since it can take a fair amount of pushing, pulling and re-adjusting with a larger quilt. I do pin basting and so far so good:)

It depends on the quilt, if it needs SID to stabilize the quilt I do it, often I don't find it necessary

I never stitch-in-the-ditch before I do an all over pattern. However, I glue baste, and nothing ever shifts because the Elmer's School Glue holds it firmly, no matter how much twisting and pulling I do. If I had to pin baste, I don't think I would ever do FMQ. Glue basting is the best idea I've ever borrowed.

Can you explain how you baste with glue? How much you use and can I assume it's the washable type that goes away in the wash...

The purpose of SID is to prevent any distortion. SID is a type of foundation quilting that should prevent your quilt from shifting while you FMQ. If your fabric is shifting & getting distorted from the SID, see if you can adjust the tension on your presser foot to lessen it. Also, with high loft batting (not sure if that's what you're using), certain feet can drag on the fabric. I have to use an open toe with my walking foot (I don't have even feed) because the other 2 options drag too much (one is a regular-type foot, the other is a ditch guide foot).

If you are referring to the thread overlapping your design, I use water soluble thread for my SID work so that I get the advantage of the foundation without creating a permanent interruption in my chose FMQ design.