I suggest that you increase your stitch length also. Whichever foot you use (and IDT engaged) it still has to move the three layers.

I prefer to use the open toe foot for SID. I gently pull the seam apart so I can see where the needle goes in. I can also manipulate the seam (by IF the seam allowance jumps to the other side from block to block.

Not much practice for me either - my first quilt was my first attempt at SID.

I don't do SID, tried it and I couldn't stay in the ditch, looked too sloppy, instead of SID, I just sew about a 1/4 - 3/8" from the ditch and looks so much neater. I usually do a large meander FMQ.

Thanks again for every bit of advice and input. I learn so much from this board! Keep the advice coming!

My Pfaff came with a stitch in the ditch foot. I use it and love it. I also have the walking foot down when I do SITD. I didn't practice at all be fore I dove into a quilt with the STID. In no time at all I felt like I knew what I was doing. (Not perfect by any means though.) I'd just go for it. I am fairly new to quilting, and if I can do it, you can. I promise.

So far I have not done any other kind of quilting when I was STID and I used just a straight stitch. No, wait, once I did a criss cross thing too, after I realized the STID left some areas larger than the batting recommended.

There is also a foot that use to be called a 'joiner' foot. There is a metal bar that runs down the middle of the foot and it was used to zig zag lace to the edge of fabric (or 2 pieces of whatever together) and that is what has turned into what quilters call a SITD foot.

You can use what ever foot works for you.

I like to use a very, very narrow zig zag stitch (Nancy Zieman calls it a wobble stitch) and catch both sides of the seam. It doesn't matter if you get off a bit, it won't show :wink:

A serpentine stitch looks nice too, and again it doesn't matter if you are a tad off :D Also check out some of the other more open decorative stitches on your machine. Mix and match on your seams and in your borders too :D

I lengthen my stitches too, and would use either the IDT or a walking foot for this.

How much quilting depends on your requirements on your batting, and how much extra if any you desire :D:D:D

I don't think my Pfaff Expression 2.0 came with a SITD Foot, but I am going to double check. I will also check for a joiner foot.