To reverse stitch or not
 

Hello

I was wondering what expert quilters recomend regarding if there is a need to reverse stitch a couple stitches at the beginning and end when you are piecing your blocks or not?

Pros and cons?

No need to backstitch. Those ends will be included when you sew them to the piece. However if I am using a poly thread (all the time!) I sew off the ends about 1/2" as poly tends to unravel. Another reason to not backstitch is that it makes it harder to rip out if necessary (often!)

I have not done it when putting blocks together. Never had a problem, but I do sometimes when I have to piece borders or bindings. I feel like it makes just a bit stronger, in my mind anyway.

No need if you lower your stitch length. All it does is waste time and create bulk in the seams.

Not when piecing. I do when quilting, attaching bindings etc.

It depends on the seam I'm sewing. Sometimes I feel it needs a bit of anchoring, like at the end of a row of blocks

not needed because when the blocks are joined and then the borders are added all beginning/ending seams will be stitched over securing them

I backstitch two stitches at the start and finish. To resew a seam that has pulled open after you start a row is a hassle. Two stitches won't add enough bulk to notice. I tried using the shorter stitch length but it was better just to backstitch for me.

As a newbie, I've got several of my current project's 9-patch squares that aren't entirely square. And if I square them, they'll be too small. So I've left them unsquare, and on the parts that aren't long enough to reach a full 1/4" seam (by this I mean REALLY close so that the stitch line is almost on the edge of the fabric), I find that backstitching that portion and then running forward again creates a nice sturdy stitch that is not likely to create a hole in that spot down the road. I know it's creating bulk in the seam, but I'd rather have bulk than a hole later on.

Otherwise, I'm not locking in my stitches at the beginning & end.