SITD Quilting
 

I have heard that SITD quilting can weaken seams and maybe not make the quilt last as long as an overall quilting pattern or a quarter inch from the seam outline quilting pattern. Any ideas or experiences?

I have a log cabin quilt completed in 1997. It is mostly SITD and no problem even with lots of use. I am currently replacing the binding because that is worn.

I have two couch quilts that are mostly quilted with stitch in the ditch quilting. The bindings are badly frayed on both of them. But there is no wear showing on the seams or by the quilting.

The thread i used was Coats and Clark cotton covered polyester dual duty thread.

Never had a problem with SID. I can see that the seam could weaken if you
don't have a full 1/4" seam. Otherwise go for it.

I can't see how SITD could weaken the seam since the stitches actually go in the ditch, which is beside the seam, and not through the stitches in the seam. My quilts that were quilted that way are doing fine.

No problem with SITD quilting, ever.

If you were to iron your seams open and kept a perfect SITD you wouldn't be actually quilting since you would just be going over the threads. But if you iron to one side you're stitching over the seam allowance. I like to iron to the side and the quilt very close to the ditch but not actually into the ditch. I find my wobbles don't show that way. They do if I try to keep in the ditch.

That statement only makes sense when the seams are pressed open. In that case there really isn't even a ditch to stitch in. Quilting 1/4" in from each side would do the job.

When the seam is pressed to the side. there is no reason for a seam to be weakened.

I stitch a 1/4" from the seam. I think it looks neater. Never thought SITD would weaken anything.

Thanks, I wasn't sure. I'll have to do more SITD now!

If you stitch over a seam that's pressed open, yes, it could weaken it, as you are stitching over thread only, and the needle could break the thread in places. SITD is when you stitch in or close to the ditch created by pressing seams to one side, and that can't possibly weaken a seam.

I have some quilts made by my grandma in the 80's that were SITD - some of the fabric patches have worn completely away but all of the seams (piecing and quilting) are intact and just fine. In fact the seams and quilted areas are in the best shape and it was the looser areas that wore away.

I would chalk that one up to a myth, personally.

what does SITD stand for?

SITD - Stitch In The Ditch

Sounds like one quilters opinion.