Quilt police could have got me for sure last night!
 

Thank Goodness the quilt police were not around last night. Tried my hand at stitch in the ditch. My goodness you would have thought I was sewing under the influence! Couldn't do a straight line for anything. guess the old eyes ain't what they used to be! Now in search of a lighted magnifier to attach to sewing machine - any recommendations? I wish there was one that you could plug in and not use batteries - is there such a thing? Thanks!

Well you sound like me! I have an OTT-light wannabee I got at Big Lots and I aim it at the presser foot. It does give me good light. As far as trying to stitch in the ditch, you could stitch near the ditch and use the edge of the presser foot as a guide, or you could use a "wobble stitch" where you intentionally have it jiggly, or, you could use a decorative stitch in or near the ditch. You will get lots of good suggestions from the wonderful quilters on this board. Good luck and post a picture when you are done!!

LOL :) I'm, sure it's not as bad as you think. Some people swear by a stitch in the ditch foot, it has like a plough to keep you in the straight and narrow LOL.
The only plug in lighted magnifier I know of is a free standing one, an Ott Light, http://www.ottlite.com/c-41-magnification-lamps.aspx not cheap though :(

It was pretty bad! But it was on a placemat I had worked up to go with my braided table runner so i was experimenting how to stitch the table runner. i like to piece things together but just have a hard time quilting them. I have so many ufos that are pieced just need quilted. I figured I better start finishing them.Luckily I belong to a large quilt guild that does charity quilts so I piece them together then turn them in for someone else to quilt and then someone else does the binding. It works out well I think that it is a large group and everyone seems to be able to do what they enjoy with it. Definitely a group project! But I have to conquer the quilting thing.

actually, make sure you have the walking foot, secured well....sometimes mine comes loose after a while and I have to tighten the screw again...if I don't, it starts jiggling!

A stitch in the ditch foot can be so helpful when trying to get your stitches in the right place. There are two types for most machines... One that is on a walking foot , the other is not on the walking foot. One thing I like about the stitchin the ditch foot .. I tend not to sit as close and bend so much to see the stitching path, although I do have to remind my self to sit back. I am much less fatigued and sore after using it. I thought it was well worth the $$.

Sewing a straight line is much more difficult than FMQ, in my opinion.

Why don't you use one of the built in stitches that is like an elongated S that looks good as a different approach to stitch in a ditch as it is meant to be seen.
Jenny

I have a Pfaff so don't need the big clunky walking foot. I use a 4 MM open toe foot. You can see where the needle goes and can move the fabric in the right direction. Also have used a 'joiner' foot or now re-named SID foot. It has a blade in the middle that runs along the seam. That worked ok, but still a sight issue.

Good luck...

Just one of the "perks," of getting older! :p I used to be able to trace a line (sewing), to where it looked as if the stitching was part of the fabric . . . but no more. Same with SITD. When I think about it, I switch to higher-power reading glasses, to sew . . . but usually don't think about it, until after I've wobbled off-course. I love Stitchnripper's suggestion of an intentionally wobbly SITD! :thumbup: