Jingle

I prefer FMQ in a large stipple or just meander. If I do some sort of SITD I sew 1/4" from the seam line. It looks much neater to me.

Fritzy

I do a lot of STD too because just about all the quilts I make are to give to people so I can't afford to have them quilted & besides I don't like the stiffness quilting leaves. I have been known to go straight in the ditch, up the side, over the road & down again! Sometimes my seam reaper & I are really good friends & then other times it seems to go okay. Once in awhile I'll get a little creative & try something different but for me STD works!

Mkotch

STD is a nice way to highlight your piecing. I often do it, but I also vary how far from the seam I quilt with my walking foot. Sometimes quilting 1/4" to 1/2" away from the seam looks good. It all depends on what you feel like doing and what the piecing is. I also do cross-hatching with blue painter's tape and free motion stippling, sometimes all in the same quilt, depending on the pattern. I find free motion a bit stressful, so I often just do walking foot quilting. Jaquie Guerin (sp?) has a very good set of classes on Craftsy you might consider watching. She is very encouraging.

janjanq

I'm glad a read this thread. I feel better about not being the only one who has problems with SITD. I usually topstitch about 1/8" from the seams . I don't use a walking foot. Sometimes in the borders I'll use a decorative stitch. I've also tried the painters tape, but occasionally stitch on the tape instead of beside the tape. I've even used my embroidery machine to stitch designs in blocks. Of course the easiest thing to do is take it to a longarmer.

wildyard

I am another who prefers to stitch 1/4" beside the ditch. It gives an outline effect and it's less noticeable when one has a little wobble now and then.

heron

Thanks for all your thoughts and tips. Lots for me to consider.

heron

Looks like it's Jacquie Gering. I'm checking her classes out this morning. Thanks for the tip.

suern3

I also like to FMQ for stitch in the ditch. Less turning the quilt. Also figured out that if I go outside the ditch a little, it is really is not noticeable when you are done. Has to do with having your eyes within inches while you are working on it and then looking at it from a normal distance. (Not talking about show quilts, don't know about that)

Beachbound

How about hand quilting? I have always quilted next to the seam instead of in the seam. Any hand quilters stitch in the actual ditch?

Watson

I also like to be in FMQ mode when stitching in the ditch.

Watson