I Thought Stitch in the Ditch meant in the Seam
 

I thought the goal was to aim for the seam or if you prefer right beside it. According to an article on Craftsy the "ditch" is actually the side of the seam that does not have the bulk of the fabric.

I stitch where I want. Sometime in the seam sometime to the right or to the left. I'm not a quilt rule follower. LOL

I too thought the ditch was the seam. you're not alone

That's how I learned to do it, on the low (ditch) side of the seam, as close to the seam as you can get, but not right on it.

That isn't a rule, it's a definition. If you do something else you're not breaking a rule, you're just not stitching in the ditch. Simple really.



Me, too, and staying with the low side whenever it shifts to the other side of the seam. When done well, all the stitching disappears under the lip of the high side fabric.

But of course! I think the information is meant to be helpful. It s probably easier to sew straight while avoiding the bulk. I think it's interesting where they define "ditch". I thought it was the crack.

I think they're just saying not to sew on the pressed side. It will look more like a "french seam" if you do. It all depends on your preference to press seams open or to one side.

That's good to know! I've been trying FMQ and not doing so well so I may start doing a lot more SITD.

Quote: and staying with the low side whenever it shifts to the other side of the seam. When done well, all the stitching disappears under the lip of the high side fabric.

I think many people have the mistaken impression that 'ditch' refers to the seam line. The ditch is created by pressing to the side, making one side of the seam higher than the other. It seems to me there would be a good chance of breaking your piecing stitches if you sewed right through your piecing seams.

Hopefully this thread will help a lot of people! Interesting that I was taught to sew in the seam at my "Learn to Quilt" class.

I also thoght it is the seam line/ crease - which I will continue to use - because I like the finished look.

Well, but if you press your seams open does that mean by definition you cannot stitch in the ditch?

I do my best to sew right in the seam itself regardless of how the allowance was pressed. If I do it right, after washing I really can't see the quilting stitches at all.

Maybe that should be called SITS? (Stitch in the seam?) LOL

This is a case were one person says something in a class or other instructional materials and therefore people think "it must be an absolute".
Stitching in the ditch comes from garment sewing, and yes they sewing directly on the stitching line of a pressed open seam, and with matching thread the stitching was nearly invisable.
Quilters started adopting this method and so many define differently where the stitching should go that there is no absolute definition.

LOL... I think a lot like you do Onebyone. Give me a rule and I usually step outside the line!

I would say so, as there is no ditch (lower area) to stitch in with a pressed open seam.



I wonder what the purpose is, of sewing directly on the stitching line of a pressed open seam in garment sewing? I don't see that you'd be engaging any fabric with the thread, but just sewing over thread.

An example is stitching shoulder seams to facings, so that the facing stays flat. If done neatly, the stitching is pretty much invisible.

This was how I was taught too!

I find the best way to quilt a really neat straight line, so it stays parallel to the seam, is to use the Line Tamer ruler http://fourpawsquilting.com/pages/template.html It makes beautiful straight lines and handles so easily. I use a Sweet Sixteen sitdown quilting machine, and this is my very favorite tool. Found it here on the board.
Thanks for the definition - I didn't know exactly what the ditch is, but I just did exactly that on a quilt I finished off today. Just need to add the binding.

I didn't think about copyright when I copied the text. It's so easy to do without thinking, isn't it?

Basically the statement on the site was that the "ditch" is the low side of your seam. I was curious about it because I was taught SITD was to sew right in the seam, to hide the stitches at my "Learn to Quilt" class.

This blind hem foot can really help. See the little flange on the bottom? That rides in the seam and you adjust your needle to sew right beside it.
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That is an excellent point! It's interesting to me I was so excited to learn to quilt I just did it and didn't question it. There's always more to learn. :o



I wonder what the purpose is, of sewing directly on the stitching line of a pressed open seam in garment sewing? I don't see that you'd be engaging any fabric with the thread, but just sewing over thread.[/QUOTE]

Stitch-in-the-ditch is a term that should have a definition, but I can't find it in Burda's sewing terms defined. However, the videos and tutorials I found showed it to be stitching into the seam just like you would with a stitch in the ditch foot. So at least there seems to be a common understanding that's like you all understand it.

I agree with Lori S that in garment sewing, you were to sew in the seamline. So when I began quilting I assumed the term meant the same thing. I will have to try the "low side" thing!

I actually pull the seam apart just slightly and sew on the "low" side. Then when I release the seam, the stitch is dang near buried "in the ditch."

I was taught to sew on the seam. The teacher called it the ditch. However, I prefer to sew about 1/8" away from the seam.

Way back in the dark ages (1970's) stitching in the ditch was stitching where the seams were stitched together. The object was to conceal the stitching or to make it less visible.

Some really good discussion on this topic and interesting thoughts.

And weakening the seam, as you'd be sewing directly on (and through) the threads that hold the seam together.

I had no idea. I never gave it a thought as I was TAUGHT at my LQS and was told to "keep the stitch in the seam or as close to the seam as possible" (that LQS is now out of business)

Forget stitch in the ditch. It's nearly impossible to stay exactly on that seam line. If your machine has a nice serpentine stitch, use that. If it's slightly off no one will notice and it's much more interesting.

I would think that the sewing wouldn't be as secure if you sewed over the threads in the seam instead of the fabric.
I stitch a little away from the seam, I like to see the stitches.

I thought it meant stitch in the seam line too. I always wondered if it weakened the seam. Always something new to learn.

Thanks Ladies, I learned a lot from this discussion. I also was taught to stitch right in the seam and I always thought that it might break the threads from the seam, so I have avoided do it.

This is how I was taught by my first quilt teacher. I have in the ditch feet for 2 of my machines but don't like them. I can eyeball it better.

Very difficult to get right in the ditch. By stitching as close to the seam (even in it) on the side of the seam opposite of the side that has the bulk...even if you don't hit the "ditch" exactly...the stitches will be buried (for the most part) by the bulk on the other side.

Depending on the batting & the type of fabrics..some SID hides better than others.

I hesitate when a customer presses her seams open...with those I try to use a design that avoids the seams, or just stitch a meandering line over the seams.

I think I'll go with Iclang's suggestion and use the serpentine stitch or some other fancy stitch. Thanks for that idea!

I saw a neat tutorial the other day where the an adjustable "stitch in the ditch" foot or a hemmer foot can be used for making straight column stitching next to each other, like top stitching on a collar or anything using that little bar as your distance guide. Think it was a Claire Rowley video on YouTube. Don't know if I am saying it right but it was a neat I idea I had not thought of.

Marysewfun

This is how I learn too in the late 80s. I don't understand these "new rules". Maybe it is because that "new" instructors don't want you to hide your stitching.

Well wherever the 'ditch' is I fall in and out of it on a regular basis....I really need to master FMQ:)