I have been working on some practice quilt sandwiches. I want to learn to do some of my own machine quilting. I have done some meandering, which needs much practice. I plan to keep working on that. I have also done some SITD, which seems to be much easier. My question is this, how much SITD practice do you all recommend before tackling a small quilt? I have done several individual blocks, and seem to be doing okay. Of course, I get out of the ditch every now and then, but I am getting better. When you all quilt a quilt using SITD, do you add some other quilting or just leave it with the quilting in the seam lines? When you SITD do you just use your regular straight stitch settings and quarter inch foot? I recently bought a new PFAFF machine and I am still not sure when to use the IDT feature. Should I engage the IDT when I SITD?
I really look forward to the day when I can say I did the WHOLE thing, instead of explaining that someone else did the quilting.

I did my very first lap quilt SITD, was new to quilting, no practice, came out nice, if your lines are good do for it.

When I use my pfaff to sitd, I engage the idt.

I use the sitd foot. I think it would be hard to do using the 1/4" foot.

As for how much practise, that depends on the user. I make lots of quilts for preemies so I practise on them. The sitd foot makes it easier for me, others will say they don't like it. It's individual reference.

I use the idt for regular piecing,too. I use the idt for everything but some decorative stitches.

When I sitd, sometimes I do other quilting elsewhere, sometimes I just to sitd, it depends on the quilt.

Thanks for the quick replies!

I agree, go for it. Or, if you are unsure about being able to stay "in the ditch", you can use a slightly wavy line crossing back and forth over the ditch. Looks nice, has a similar effect, and doesn't need to be quite as precise.

Just go for it! But I suggest you get a walking foot. The fabrics stay in place much better! I wouldn't do it any other way now.

Pfaff owner here. I ALWAYS use the IDT. My non-IDT feet have gotten very lonely over the past 10 years or so..... I can't tell you when I disengage the IDT and I do quilts and clothes....

As far as STID I use an open toe 9mm foot. I find I have better sight and control and go out of the 'ditch' less. Most of my STID is the only quilting I do, or just add cross stitching if the pattern screams at me :).....

The IDT is the walking foot on these machines. A regular walking foot will not fit either, the IDT is in the way....

I don't have a SITD foot. Should I just use the Standard foot along with the IDT, which serves as a walking foot?

I don't have a SITD foot either, but have found that my zipper foot works great! Lets me stay right in the ditch where I should be. And clearly see where I am supposed to be stitching. Might give yours a try.

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.