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.

The only place I reverse stitch is on the borders or whatever pieces will be on the outside edge of the quilt. That way if it is pulled while I am quilting or putting on the frame I do not have any areas that come undone. The rest is held together when the blocks are put together.

I lock both at the beginning and end. Yes, it is a pain if I have to rip out a seam. But I like the sturdiness of locking the seam.

I do most of the time only because I can not seem to break the habbit! I do not think it is necessary but did it for so may years I seem to be on auto!! LOL

I only backstitch when putting the top together and getting ready for quilting.

Thank you for all such great tips.

I have a clearer idea now on when to and when not to backstitch.

Right now I'm doing 5" I Spy quilt combining prints with white 5" charms. It will be a full size quilt. I got two sets of 50 5" charms ea. at the quilt shop. For the rest of the charms, I'm using my own stash to hunt for fabrics with I Spy prints. This is really fun.

No I do not reverse stitch and have never had any problems

Same here - got lazy on one quilt and didn't do this. Paid the price.

Total waste of time for me. I use a smaller stitch than default and chain stitch my blocks. When the quilt top is all together I staystitch the outside edge to reduce any chance of stretching or seams pulling loose.

I was told to set my stitch length at 2 by a well known quilter, so doing this you do not need to back stitch at either the beginning or the ending.

Pat in MN

I don't backstitch during piecing but I just put a binding on today and took a couple of bs's at the beginning, end, and corners of the binding. I don't find the blocks come apart so I'm ok with the way I do it.

I so backstitch a lot of the time.(hard to teach an old dog new tricks!) I wore out one BS button on my Viking. When I took it in for a repair they looked at me like I'd grown another head because I backstitch. I just like the added security of knowing that the stitches are locked. Whatever floats your boat, I say!

If your machine has the fix button wouldn't this work just as well?