stitching in the ditch
 

That doesn't always work for me unless that's all the quilting I am doing on the quilt, If I sitd and then do some fmq inside the block I always end up with the fabric pleating against the sitd seam I bought a class from craftsy and the instructor said it's a must to sitd (all) seams I posted the question to her still waiting for the answer, am I doing something wrong? do any of you have this problem? would like to hear you opinions.

It sounds like the quilt is not basted well enough maybe. How are you basting the quilt?

are you working on a frame or dsm? it sounds like the top wasn't or maybe both were not pulled tight enough when you did your sid.

I took what I think is the same Craftsy class and am having great results using stitch-in-the-ditch (SITD) as she recommends. I wonder if your SITD is somehow too tight? Are you using a walking foot so that your quilt layer feed evenly? As Debra asked, I also wonder if your quilt isn't basted well enough and is allowing your layers to shift while you're doing SITD? By the way, I always spray-baste with 505 spray, rather than pin baste. I don't know if that's a factor in keeping the layers together better since I've never really pin-basted. Anyway, I hope the instructor has some suggestions that will help you. It must be frustrating to go to all the work and then not have it turn out like you want.

I also think that you haven't secured your sandwich enough. Try more pins/spray/glue basting.
Another thing is double check your pressing. If you have pressed tiny folds into the seams, the extra fabric would be released when you gently pulled the seam open for your SITD.
And, finally, you might want to try loosening your presser foot pressure a tiny bit. Too much pressure might create a ripple that gets pushed toward the edge of the block and gets trapped by the SITD.

I think I took the same class too. I use bottom line thread to SITD around all the blocks and then I do more decorative stitching in the blocks or across the entire quilt. A walking foot is important! And getting every layer sandwiched flat and even is important. I clamp my backing on a big table top and I pin baste. I hope you find a solution to your problem. It is so frustrating to get to the quilting and not have the result you anticipated.

I do not understand why you would want to SITD then do more quilting.

I handle stitching in the ditch by staying outside of the ditch. I avoid it at all costs and stick to FMQ.

I have quilted hundreds of quilt starting with the ditch and never had any puckers on the back. Sounds like your sandwich quilt has not been properly laid out and secure.

I think if the trouble with puckering is on the back then the issue truly is the preparation of the back. Make sure the backing is taut before you lay on your batting and top no matter what basting method you use. This is a must for all quilting to come out nice whether you SITD, FMQ, or any other option. Preparation is usually half the battle for any part of the quilting process. I wish you better luck with the next one. Practice makes perfect right?

If you SID with FMQ, don't you end up with an awfully cluttered quilt back? I don't understand why it would be necessary, as a rule to SID all seams in a quilt. Presuming adequate stitching, adequately spaced in a quilt, I don't see how it could matter if that stitching is in the ditch or elsewhere. Does it apply to overall designs, too? I can't imagine that would look very good, especially on the back.

I stitch in the ditch around the motif I want to stand out. Like a star made of 1/2 square triangles. I don't stitch in the ditch on seams that are part of the 'background'. Then FMQ in the design elements of the block. This kind of quilting is gorgeous because it highlights the design elements of the quilt very specifically. It is also very time consuming. Here's a photo:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...4237563b_z.jpgBlock: quilting by kristijoy108, on Flickr


If I'm doing an overall design then I would just FMQ over everything and skip the 'ditch' part. Here's a photo of two blocks done like this (quilt-as-you-go):

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/...bc1707c6_z.jpgVice Versa BOM - May Block (City Lights) by kristijoy108, on Flickr

My opinion: Craftsy seems to have hired the quilt police to teach this class. It is never a "must" to SID any seams, let alone ALL seams, on a quilt, no matter what other type of quilting you do.

As far as your pleats are concerned, I agree with the others that it is most likely a basting problem.

I don't SITD all seams but I do SITD around the blocks, then I quilt the individual blocks. I haven't had an issue with puckers on the back.

I used to get puckers too. Here is what I learned: when I basted with pins, the first step was to secure the quilt back to the table with binder clips. I discovered I was actually pulling the fabric TOO tight and was stretching it in places so that then when I was stitching the stretched parts were larger and would pucker especially when I crossed stitching lines. The second problem I had was that I had way too much pressure on my walking foot and it was too tight on the fabric and caused uneven feeding and shifting of the fabric and consequently more puckers. So, I switched to spray basting and that REALLY helped so that I no longer stretch the fabric and the layers stay stuck together. At first it helped to iron the sandwich flat after spray basting but I no longer do that. I also adjusted the pressure so that the walking foot easily feeds the fabric evenly. No more puckers! Good luck, I know it is frustrating.
Oh I also don't SID all my seams--just a couple of vertical and horizontal ones to anchor the layers together then do whatever other quilting you want to do.

I agree with the others. It sounds like your quilt is not taut enough when basting. I use Sharon Schambler's method. While it does take time, I put on the music and have come to enjoy it. I think of how I am going to do SID before I baste. That way, I am able to baste all the vertical straight lines without clipping any basting threads and then I clip them when I do the horizontal lines. I find it works for me.

I mostly do FMQ. If I do SITD I sew about a 1/4" from the ditch. Looks neater to me than SITD.

I have the same class and I just finished a quilt and the same thing happened to me. I would be interested in her reply. Also I found that I really need to concentrate on doing a better job of piecing my quilt blocks and lining everything up.

Spray baste or glue (Elmer's washable school glue ONLY),your layers together so they can't shift. Also check to see if you can adjust the pressure on your pressure foot and if you can, adjust so you have less pressure.

I think I took the same class or at least a similar one. Quilting on a DSM.
I didn't pick up on the idea that it s a must to SITD all seams, but that it is an easier way to handle a large quilt. However, I too have a problem with that type of quilting and the puckering on the back. I can only do it if I use a walking foot and spray baste my quilt together. I have tried everything including taping the layers to the floor and then trying to pin baste or sew baste the quilt. No luck.
The other thing I've noticed is for me it really depends on the batting I use. If it is cotton with no loft it seems to work very well and no puckers. When I use a poly bat which I generally do on my charity quilts, it never fails to pucker.
Very frustrating!

I recently made a baby quilt and used some low loft batting I had on hand. I was amazed at how easy it was to quilt (a wavy line down each row and across) as opposed to the hi loft poly I had been using. Think I will convert to low loft from now on. It was sort of a night and day moment for me.

It seems to me the same principal applies as doing a whole quilt. Start in the middle and work to the outside. I am using this idea on a Double Wedding Ring Quilt right now. If there is any extra fabric, it will end up between the FMQ and the squares etc.