Yes I hand quilt and you can do it by hand. I have quilted many quilts by doing it that way.

Stitch in the Ditch is really a misnomer. As we generally press seasm to one side, getting the stitching in that seam is extremely difficult. So it goes on the "low"side of the seam - the one that doesn't have the seam allowances. Your stitches should "butt up" to the seam, but not stitch on the side with the seam allowances. You will see that immediately and it will look like topstitching. It does take some practice, and I find it's easier to stitich about 1/4" away from the seam.

I was having trouble with SID too. Thanks for asking the question.

I use invisible thread on top and color corrodinated thread to backing on the bobbin You can not see the stitches on top if you get out of the ditch. I try to stitch dirrectly in the seam.

Do you get puckers when using your SID foot? I have one but have not used it as I hear most everyone say you have to use a walking foot.

Many of the machine manufactures now have a walking foot that has a Stitch in the Ditch foot built in. I know Viking makes a Walking Stitch in the Ditch foot. They are just what the doctor ordered for curing the puckering with a regular ditch foot.

Since I'm a beginning quilter, I don't have a walking foot or any special foot. My machine is OLD, a hand me down from my mom. It works for me to learn on I guess.

I use invisible thread when I quilt in the ditch, and use a walking foot. It is hardly visable after it is washeda

You can use a walking foot on some old machines. I have an old Elnita, and I use one on it. It interchanges with my Singer as it is a low shank. Ask your dealer if a walking foot will fit your particular machine.

Thank you....I'll look into that...

I use the edge stitcher (used to do top stitching and also the invisible hemming stitch) and move the needle one position. This way I am edge stitching just off of the seam. I, too , like the look.

I've also used a "wobbly" stitch -- zigzag set at the very least width. Then I can follow the seam and it wibble wobbles and looks great especially after washing and drying.

I stitch in the ditch on the seam. I also bought a foot from Amazon that helps a lot. I stay in the ditch now. It is easier to do.I used to use the walking foot.

I do stitch in ditch by machine when I think it works for
some quilts (although I do FMQ ) because I like the pattern it will leave on back. Not always wanting circles or
feathers for my square blocks.
Tried using filament thread but had trouble with it so never again. After findining out I own a SID foot I tried it last week but had puckers/bad stitiching on back so
ripped for many hours.
Have to use the walking foot for correct feed to fabric
but then guide it carefully where I can bury the thread not to be seen on the top. I don't find that hard.
Don't think it's the same if you are hand stitching as you are wanting your stitches to show. My quilts are not museum quality but I sure have fun .

I`ve handquilted all my quilts so far and SID and as you say i just follow the seams but not exactly on it...i don`t even do it 1/4" away i do it just a hairline away so i can see my stitch yet it looks in the ditch,,,i know i`m a bit different...but thy have all turned out beautiful, and i love the look and feel of handquilting...it does take time though...but i find it so relaxing...i also try and do it on the side with no seam allowance

This is a little quilt I made for a workshop several years ago. As you can see I hand quilted every block in a different way. The block in the top row on the left is quilted with SID (or quilting in the ditch), the block in the bottom row on the left is done with outline quilting.

What a great Quilting Sampler ... shows how the same block can look so different with different quilting!

Thanks for sharing.

This is what I'm going to do on my current project.(stitch next to the seam) I tried to SID but it wasn't working well for me. (Well...ok....my corners weren't the best.) So I'm going to leave the current SID in for my anchor (I only had a few passes) and change my technique. Then I'll take them out.

Also, when I first tried SID the quilter who told me about it assumed I knew how to start and stop with tiny stitches. I didn't so I had a lot of tails to cut and tie. :? Luckily it was a small charity quilt. Now when someone suggests a new technique, if I'm not going to a worikshop, I'll check out the videos and tutorials first.

Older and a little wiser. 8-)

Oh Tonnie, reading this thread has given me a real chuckle. It does look like you have a stutter problem LOL. actually that looks like something that I would do.
When I first started hand quilting, I quilted 1/4 inch from the seam. I loved the look of that. Now with my hands not co-operating very well, I stitch in the ditch so my stitches don't show as much. I too stitch just up against the seam on the low side. It's hard to do right in the ditch unless you press all your seams open, and I don't like to do that. I'm glad you are doing hand quilting. I just love Andrea's quilts.

I use an open toe foot so one can see exactly where the needle is going down and have much better luck with this method.

Oh oh.....what am I supposed to do on corners and starts and stops when I SID?

wow!!!I think that is fantastic, thank you for sharing. I hand stich and I am just a beginner. I think I would like to try that as my next project. I am proud of hand stiching so you need to show your hand stiching on both sides.Use a good thread for hand stiching. For my first one I stiched near the ditch.Traveled under the cross overs.[between layers inthe batting] Just make it enjoyable so you will want to do more. When I machine I get to up tight and don't want to do anymore. So enjoy it.You will be proud of it that is what counts. I am not going to do quanities just love. :thumbup:

kem77 wrote "---(If this has multiple posts, sorry)[/quote]"

Too much coffee? Are you threading your machine while it's running? :-) :-) :-)

LOL - I love this. Even better than the galloping horse idea. Sometimes I get very - um - obsessive when I'm SIDing. I'll try to remember what you've said!

I always aim to hide my stitches in the "ditch." One lady at my LQS told me she does a serpentine stitch which is unique and as she told me, then if you goof it isn't as apparent. I haven't tried it, but I am thinking of trying it on a quilted postcard to see how it looks. SID is my favorite although the more I practice FMQ the more I like it and am starting to feel a little more confident.

My dirty little secret about SID. If I happen to wander outside the seam for a few stitches & it shows, I use a permanent marker of the proper color & touch up the boo-boo stitches.

I use a serpentine stitch that puts a small wiggily on either side of the ditch. It is too hard to stay exactly in the seam.

Oh, you just saved me some time! I have one SID block done (with white stitches showing on the dark green) and 63 to go. I have a nice green magic marker and I am off to the races. I love this board!
Phyllis

Borntohandquilt, your little quilt is gorgeous! Love the idea of a "stitching sampler". I once took a needlepoint class during which we did a sampler plllow cover of stitiches, but I hand't thought of doing the same thing with quilting stitches. Thanks for shaaring.

I use a walking foot when I SID and I recently learned that I need to slightly spread the seam with my hands to be able to get IN the ditch. As soon as I release my hands, the stitch disappears.

If the seam switches sides from block to block (the seam allowance is ironed to the opposite side) I was taught to slightly ease the quilt so the needle can gently move to the opposite ditch. This makes the seam allowance transitions seamless. It really works - I was amazed, because I always used to have these ragged chunky transitions.

I don't think anyone would stitch in the ditch by hand. The point is to hide the ugly machine stitches. You want the pretty hand stitches to show. Instead, hand quilters would stitch 1/4 inch in from the seam.

Tellabella - where did you find that foot - does it have a number on it? I have the same machine and would like to get one. Thanks!

Pat

You would be very surprised how many quilters here do stitch in the ditch by hand - because they WANT to hide the quilting! Another reason seems to be that they are afraid the quilting lines will destroy the effect and look of the piecing. I don't know who ever told them such a thing.

i rarely sid... i prefer to mad.. meander around the ditch...

I DO, and enjoy it.