Stitching in the Ditch:
ok, you are looking at your block, seam line is right down the center, your seam allowances are pressed to your right...
now...to stitch in the ditch, do you stitch to the right of the seam, on top of the seam allowances OR
do you stitch to the left of the seam on the "no seam allowances" side?
I read that if you do it correctly, it strenghthens your quilt and since I had to 'skinny' up some of my seam allowances, it needs all the strength I can give it. It's going on a five year olds bed and probably will see the inside of a washing machine a lot! :D

Stitching in the ditch is stitching in that little "hollow" made by your seam allowance, not top-stitching. Your stitches will seem to disappear into the quilt.

That's how it works for me, anyway.

I stitch to the left of the seam allowance, as close to the edge without going over the edge. :)

I wouldn't tell the quilt police this because I'm sure it is "against the rules" but when I make kids quilts that are going to be very loved I have done wavy stitches or any decorative stitch straight down the seam. Depending on the pattern of the quilt this could add to the design but would definitely strengthen the structuce of it.

thanks guys! I have books etc. but why spend all that time hunting something when you can get it straight from real ppl that do it! gotta love this board :wink:

I do like Shadow.... if you actually Stitch in the Ditch...in my mind you are really stitching down an empty space that is only filled with the stitching that joined the squares together. I prefer to stitch on the actual fabric about 1/8" over to the opposite side of where you have pressed your seam allowance. Once the quilt is washed this stitching is almost invisible.

Ditto!

Just about the time I think I get the quilting terms figured out...someone goes and changes them on me. lol.
It makes sense to me that when you stitch in the ditch, you don't actually have any fabric to stitch on...you're just stitching over stitches you already made. From now on my foot is going to be walking on the berm instead of stitching in the ditch. :wink:

I must agree with these ladies also.

Not only that, but you also run the risk of piercing and damaging the threads used for piecing. It's really best to stitch slightly to one side of the actual seam.

I have never done a wavy line like Mary Quite Contrary suggests, but have read that some people do this because they can't seem to "stay in the ditch". I have that problem at times, and will try this. The instructions I read said to use a very suttle wavy line.

Phyllis

I kind of like the idea of stitching wavy alongside the ditch - sounds pretty neat!

You quilt on the left side of that seam (the "no seam allowance" side), right next to where the piece on the right folds under.

If you had to "skinny up" some seams, you may also want to consider some quilting through the pieces and not just the seams. The more quilting - the stronger the quilt.

I bet your machine came with an edge joining foot. It's perfect for stitch in the ditch. :) Now they are being sold as Stitch in the Ditch foot!
:shock:


It's perfect for keeping stitches straight when following a line.

Hi,

The only machine quilting I do is a stitch in the ditch with a decorative or at least zig zag stitch. I figure it strengthens the piecing. I like to use varigated thread in both the top and bottom. Some times I just machine tie the quilt by setting my automatic button hole to the smallest size, making a very small button hole without a hole and then lifting the presser foot and moving to another spot. I have a lot of strings to cut afterward but the buttonhole is backstitched at both the beginning and the end. Either method works well for Linus or other chairty quilts as they will be washed a lot more than those of us who quilt would.

Now I'm confused. I thought that "stitch in the ditch" was exactly that...you stitch in the ditch created by the fabrics butting together when you sew the seam. I do have a "stitch in the ditch" foot and when you use that..you definetly are stitching right down that seam. It has a guide that makes it go there...that is unless I move my needle over.

well, yall talk about a wavy line, hummm, i use my stitch in the ditch foot and even though i intend to do a straight line it ends up wavy anyhow, i just can't sew a straight line no matter what, maybe i need my glasses changed.

I am soooo excited. I have worked and worked on this quilt and was so down about a very thin pink border I did around my princess panels. After asking you guys for help I was inspired to make a 'vine' and place over the mess I made and will applique some pink print flowers to camoflage. It gave me a second wind today and I got all the blocks together and put on two of eight borders. My center is appliqued so the flowers won't be out of place at all. I just hope they hide all the oops! I couldn't have done it without you all...I JUST LOVE YOU GUYS FOR THIS...ty, ty, ty....and I have to thank Mary individually bc she first mentioned the wavy line, but all the feedback just helped me so much. I can't promise to post a pic when done cause i need a new camera, but if I get it worked out, except for that pink border, I really think my sweet pea is going to love it. She loves everything her nana makes for her. Thank you all again x's a thousand!!! :D

Good for you!! I love it when the board helps me solve a problem, but thats what friends are for right??? You really need to get that cameral fixed...we want to see!! :lol:

I learn something every time I read the quilting board. You all are the best!!!!
G

Me too!

I agree with Sandpat. I have the stitch in the ditch foot and with the guide it makes you stitch right in the ditch. Now I'm wondering if I should be using it or not.

Stitch away from the ditch! LOL! Isn't this board lovely? So many talented quilters that know the ins and outs. Great for us newbies!

Chele wrote: Stitch away from the ditch! LOL! Isn't this board lovely? So many talented quilters that know the ins and outs. Great for us newbies!

SAALUUUTE!!!! :D

I really don't know which is better to do. Some say do...most here say don't...so...??? :?

I am going to do it the way Shadow reccommended bc I agree that right in the channel of stitches may pierce threads and weaken the seams. To each his own. Some press seam allowances open, some don't. :-)

My guild makes LOTS of service project/charity quilts where we opt to just tie the quilts, in the best interest of time. We've always hand tied, but I love this idea about using the buttonhole feature and variegated threads. I plan to pass this time saving tip onto the "girls". Thanks, mpspeedy! Nita

mpspeedy wrote:
Hi,
The only machine quilting I do is a stitch in the ditch with a decorative or at least zig zag stitch. I figure it strengthens the piecing. I like to use varigated thread in both the top and bottom. Some times I just machine tie the quilt by setting my automatic button hole to the smallest size, making a very small button hole without a hole and then lifting the presser foot and moving to another spot. I have a lot of strings to cut afterward but the buttonhole is backstitched at both the beginning and the end. Either method works well for Linus or other chairty quilts as they will be washed a lot more than those of us who quilt would.

My guild makes LOTS of service project/charity quilts where we opt to just tie the quilts, in the best interest of time. We've always hand tied, but I love this idea about using the buttonhole feature and variegated threads. I plan to pass this time saving tip onto the "girls". Thanks, mpspeedy! Nita

I agree a decorative stitch like this w/ variegated thread could not only strengthen, but look good on some colorful kids quilts. I'll probably do some of that too! we are only limited by our imaginations and lol, lack of knowledge. That's part of what i am here for, bc there is plenty of it! :D
P.S. My gma always said two heads were better than one. She never had any exposure to computers. This would probably have thrilled her to no end, to have all these friends and information about a favorite subject/hobby.

I use the stitch in the ditch foot when sewing the binding to the back of the quilt. It makes staying in the ditch so easy. I have a hard time sewing a straight line and the foot keeps me straight.

good idea! :-)

I also use Fons and Porters glue stick to hold the binding to the back of the quilt. It hasnt gummed up my machine at all. But I am careful not to put it past the stitch line.

YES, you all are brilliant! I have a Janome 11000 for which I bought (separately) a rather expensive stitch-in-the-ditch foot and I was surprised to find that, when using this foot, my stitching was just to the right of the seamline stitches. I thought this was not right because I was under the impression the stitches should be right on top of the seam stitches. I am SOOOO glad to hear that I was wrong about that and that my stitch-in-the-ditch foot exactly does what it's supposed to do! Thank you!

Hmmm, I better take a closer look at mine to see exactly where it stitches...as with most things...it just might be smarter than I am :oops:

lol, sandpat, I don't think it's your less smart than your machine. I think some of them may have been kitty cats in past life bc they do what they want and expect us to follow suit. meooow! :D

I think the first reason for stitching in the ditch is to quilt the sandwich together almost as invisable as possible. But if invisablity isn't needed just durablity than put your stitches as you wish .

Me too. Hahaha. All this time, I've been moving the needle to stitch over the stitches. :oops:

This is something I've used and it works out great. One of Alex Anderson's guests on Simply Quilts had showed the "wobbly stitch." It's the narrowest zig-zag that your machine will make. It's barely a zig-zag at all -- just kind "off" being straight. Well, it works well for the times you just can't go "straight between the piecing." It kinda catches on both sides. I did a whole quilt with that stitch using a neutral thread. Worked out well. :wink:

Well now, that does sound like a "Purrrfect" excuse to me~ I'll go with that one :wink: :lol: :lol:

Just attended the local quilt show and saw many quilts with decrative stitching on the seams. I think anything goes today as long as it pleases the quilt maker.

What's that old saying? When all else fails, read the book.

If you are stitching on the side with none of the seam allowance you will NOT be getting the reinforcing your looking for. If you sew on the other side your thread is going through top fabric, 2 seam allowances, batting and back. Much stronger.
Happy stitching
Sally Dolin