Jan in VA

As the (self-proclaimed) "laziest quilter in town", I never back/lock stitch.
However, because I also often do not finish my tops right away (told you I was lazy!), I stay stitch about 1/8" in all the way around the top (within the seam allowance for the binding) to prevent the seams from coming apart as it is handled.

Jan in VA

snipforfun

I use mostly polyester -So Fine. Poly tends to unravel at the end of a row. I sew about 1/4" off the end. Lock stitching is hard to frog stitch!

Nammie to 7

No question is dumb - it is so much better to ask a question about something that puzzles us - at least that way we can find out why some do it this way and some do it that way. So many times in quilting there isn't one "correct" way to do something - I can think of at least 6 different ways to do 1/2 square triangles for instance - you just pick what works best for you.

Alice Woodhull

I don't use the lock stitch very often as it leaves a little knot on the back. I do back stitch when I do garment sewing but not when quilting as most of the seams are stitched over and that catches the end. When I'm sewing the last border, I may backstitch it as it helps to hold everything as you are handling it quite a bit getting it sandwiched, etc.

RGAY

Once again, I have learned something from this board of amazing quilters! It never dawned on me to stitch all the way around a completed top to hold the end seams..... brilliant!

And Meyert, I think the only dumb question is the one not asked.... because you raised the question, I now don't have to ask it! Most questions are pondered by many but raised by only a few! Thanks for bringing it up!

Buckeye Rose

The backstitching for garments is important because the fabrics and seams will get pulled and tugged on quite a bit, causing the seams to come undone if not back stitched. The many seams in pieced quilt tops are secured by all the cross seams, and then once again by the actual quilting itself. The quilting holds all the layers in place so there is no stress on the seams. I also stitch around the edge of the completed top....it secures all the seams and also helps prevent stretching/distortion of pieces while sandwiching/quilting.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you need....we have all been there, done that....it's how we learn!

solstice3

I don't back stitch

sherryl1

I do what works.if this works for you then go for it.no quilt police here.

ArtsyOne

Never a dumb question - without it I wouldn't have known about sewing all around the outside edge of a quilt to hold the stitching, and I've been sewing for more years than I care to count.

AlienQuilter

I was told that for every question asked, there are probably 10 people who wanted to know but did not ask.

The only time I backstitch is for partial seams. Especially when needing a "turning hole" like in birthing a quilt or turning a purse/tote. There are also several block patterns which require a partial seam.