babyfireo4

Yes! Go for it. Quilters are unique and creative. We learn by trial and error or trial and awesomeness I personally love using decorative stitches, especially on binding. I sew the front and flip it to the back like normal, then take decorative stitch down the front to catch the back and give it a cute design. We all quilt differently, we all have things that work for us and not others. If you find something you like and don't see in other quilts, show it off, someone else may love it to and use your idea.

dunster

I used several decorative stitches when quilting a French braid quilt, one of my earliest quilts. I think it worked out very well.

quilter1

I use decorative stitches all the time and like the look. They are great for quick quilts.

Lucio

I would kill to have a machine that has a large serpentine stitch on it for that very purpose. My machines default to a 2.2 stitch length which is much too tight for my taste. I would also like to use it to stitch over the ditch on my children's charity quilts.

DogHouseMom

by all means YES!! Just take one word of advice ... use a walking foot. Ask me how I know

Weezy Rider

The older Vikings like the 1+ had a serpentine type stitch. It was on a card and you could adjust it. Older Pfaffs before the CV had Maxi stitches you can program in on the machine. The CV series probably also has it. These are embroidery machines, though.

I've used all the stitches for crazy quilting, some work just fine for straight quilting. Use your imagination. Grab some fabric and try it.

Certain machines like my Pfaff don't need a separate walking foot. They have IDT built in. The Babylock Quest has a good IDT.

maryb119

I use embroidery stitches to quilt on some of my quilts. I use a more open design rather than a dense one because it moves with the machine better with all three layers. It really adds to the quilt design. I have used verigated thread to do the stitching too. I learned that there are no rules in quilting and if you like something, go for it. If you don't like it, you can always take it out. I usually experimented on a scrap quilt sandwich to see how the stitch would look first. It saved me from a couple stitches that didn't work out well on the thickness on the batting.

Quilter 65

I have used a blanket stitch instead of a satin stitch on many, many Christmas stockings and really like the look of something different. I think it will be fabulous whatever you decide.

texpat45

By all means...use it! It'll look wonderful! I used that same stitch down the middle of the narrow border on a doll quilt I made for my DGD; white on white and it looked great. She loved it...thought it was sooo fancy and perfect for her Princess doll quilt!!

irishrose

The vintage Montgomery Wards (made by Juki) was a Salvation Army rescue. $13. My Elna has a serpentine stitch that I've used for a lot of things, but the machine is only straight stitching as it curves back and forth. The MW serpentine curves back and forth with a small zigzag almost like a satin stitch so it's much more impressive. Varigated thread? I'm FMQ with a red/white varigated. It's a thought, but I don't want to detract from the appliqued panel. I used satin stitch and buttonhole stitch both on the panel. The Elna does a wonderful satin stitch. The MW didn't need a walking foot when I did the Jewel Box, but if it does, I can use the Elna's which is actually a Janome as both the Elna and the MW are short shank machines.

Thank you, everyone. Sooner or later, I'll post a picture.