I'm attempting to stitch in the ditch on my 1st quilt ( simple squares) and can't force my needle into it. LOL I'd say less than 50% of the stitches have found their way . Does it get any easier? Is the an easier way to do just a simple project?

do you have a SITD foot? it has the bar down the center,a little easier to follow! then your needle can be even with it, or to the right of left of the bar, but the bar will ride the seam or ditch..

i have heard from different people that in the ditch, is right on the seam..others say it is actually just left or right of the the "ditch" or seam.

http://quilterpenny.wordpress.com/20...-in-the-ditch/

I solved my SID wandering problem by using an open toe foot..... Yeah, sounds weird doesn't it? Well, what it did for me was to be able to see where I was steering my fabric easier. I also have used a 'joining' foot. This foot has a blade in the middle that follows the 'ditch'. That one made wandering stitches about 20% of the time instead of 90%.....

Good luck!

My way is to pick a stitch that is decorative, elongate it, and then you have a little more leeway, going in/out of the ditch :D

Other wise, an open toe foot really comes in handy. I also put one hand on either side of the presser foot, and kind of tug the fabric to open up the ditch area :D:D:D

I no longer do SID -- too nerve-wracking for me. I think it is *much* easier to quilt gently curving lines using a walking foot. You can even cross-hatch that way.

The ditch is the LOW side of the seam. Your needle runs ALONG the seam. If you press the seam well and spread the seam with your hands - it makes seeing the ditch easier.

I don't have my SITD foot yet. But I use my blind hem foot. The only difference from what I can tell is the blade is longer with the blind hem foot than the SITD foot.

Hey I can hit the ditch every time I cross it! :lol:

I will say that I am getting better at it as I go but I am the meandering type of guy. ;-)

Billy

That made me giggle.

The above reply was for Lostn51.