I was taught that poly batting needs to be quilted 2-4 apart and cotton 4-6 inches apart.

HI Every one I was at quilt shop thursday where I go and I was doing stitch in a ditch and Sandy the Lady who owns the shop told me you can sew your seams 5inches apart no larger. I was sewing log cabin squares and I was sewing around each square around each strip but not on the sashing and she said it was fine because there isn't that much space between the sashing and the squares.

All due respect to Sandy, it really does depend on the brand of batting. All are different and the warm and natural do say they can be quilted up to 10" apart. I prefer closer quilting but there's no hard and fast rule.

I was taught to place an open hand on your quilt, and if there is no stitching somewhere beneath your hand , then it needs to be more closely stitched. Your hand should cover some stitching in every placement. But then again, I think it is a matter of preference.