SID and FMQ - which goes first?
 

If you do a mix of SID and FMQ (obviously a FMQ novice here), which is best done first? It seems to me that SID stabilizes the area, but afraid that might lead to "lumps and bumps" in the area quilted. I would appreciate suggestions.
Thanks!

I stitch in the ditch first. I feel that it stabilizes the quilt. I do not quilt ESS (every stinking seam :)) but I do most of them!. I then do an all over FMQ like meandering, or I go to town with motifs!

No lumps and bumps to date!

Thanks, Trisher.

If I’m doing a quilting design that is not all over, sometimes I ditch each square as I get to it, but before the regular Fmq, so I’m doing both at the same time. I find I do a much better job of staying in the ditch if I do it FMQ rather than using a regular or even stitch in the ditch foot.

Rob

It CAN happen that you'll get lumps and bumps and little puckers - usually when that happens to me I assume it means I didn't have things properly flattened out when I basted.

You don't need to do SITD with FMQ at all - it's optional, especially if you've basted thoroughly. I skip it if I'm doing an all-over FMQ pattern. I really only use the two together if I'm trying to accent some of the piecing lines, or if my FMQ is done like a medallion in the middle of an open block, then I'll SITD around things like that. Normally my FMQ stitches won't cross or touch my SITD stitches, except in small spots, to move from space to space.

I never stitch in the ditch

Thanks! I appreciate all of the comments and rationale. Since my FMQ is a new effort, and not very good at that, I thought I might SID, then do small areas of FMQ to work on that skill set.