quiltingfool

:( I use a Janome 1600P, gracie frame with Gracie stitch regulator. I have tried to make nice neat stitch in the ditch seams, but they look crappy. I just can't keep the seams nice and straight. Its like I need some type of guide to help me move the machine "straight" along the seam lines. I don't know how to explain this (so bear with me), but I envision a seam guide that extends in front of the needle -- I've seen a seam guide that attaches to the bottom of the free motion foot, but I am not sure how that would work -- anybody have any experience with something like that (I've seen it in Nancy's Notions). I'd appreciate any helpful tips of any sort for stitching in the ditch!

mgshaw

I am not a machine quilter, hope to be one day, but thats another story! Here is a link with a ruler you can use for stitch in the ditch and other straight line quilting. I am sure there are lots more out there too.

http://www.handiquilter.com/shop/product/ruler/

Prism99

Have you considered using an acrylic ruler? I'm not an experienced frame quilter, but I have seen rulers mentioned on the homequiltingsystems group at http://groups.yahoo.com . For ruler work, I think longarmers like to use a foot that is extra thick. This foot is available for only some makes, but quilters also make their own by glueing layers of washers to the bottom of the foot.

Don't rely on my info, though! If you check out that group, be sure to read the files and do a search before posting a question; there's a lot of info there already.

quiltingfool

Thanks for the suggestion!

azam

I use a long piece of something that looks like corian, (but it's not corian, it's a very thick light weight plastic) it's about 1 inch thick. You may want to go somewhere where they make counter tops and ask them to cut you a remnant the length that you think you'll be able to work with on your machine. My son brought me this piece from work and it seems to work well. He works for an Industrial Rubber Co. I hope this helps.