Stay Stitch Conversation
 

In recent conversations, I mentioned being a fan of stay-stitching pieces, borders, and quilts. It doesn't add much time to the project and the results are worth the investment. I wanted to share a demo with you and invite you to try one too.

First pic is the unfinished block edge. This block has been pressed and put on the mat. You can see a little bit of ripple on the green sashing strip.(This block is to show you a sample as I forgot to take before pics of the stay stitched block.)

(2 more posts to follow with pics)

This picture is the edge after stay-stitching. You can see with the first line of stitching the block edge is not flat.

After pressing the block, the edge is flatter. This technique helps hold the edges so there is less stretching and is especially helpful with long border edges. Good luck!

While I usually don't have many problems with my open seams, if I don't know how long it will be until I get a top quilted, I stay stitch my outer edge, just within the seam allowance. It is one of the reasons I often end with a solid border, is to keep those little ends from coming undone or warping. If I have the right side of my presser foot off the fabric, the left foot/center is enough to move it nicely.

I stay-stitch parts with lots of seam, especially if they will be on the bottom as they're sewn together. Also seam ends if I've pressed the seam open. It not only stabilizes the seam, but it keeps the seam allowance from flipping over as it goes under the foot.

On my last table runner, I did 1/4" match stick quilting and I stay stitched the edges to hold all that together. It made it lay nice and flat and I think I'll continue to do that.

Thanks for the tut!

Watson

as a long arm quilter, I love to see quilt come to me with the seams stay-stitched or basted so that they don't pop open when put on the frame--keeps the quilt nice and even.

I had such a problem with my sewing machines pre-set 2.5 stitch length setting and the seams coming open. I was really frustrated and then I realized my stitch length was too long. I went down to 2.0 and have had a lot less problems. Even so, if I have a lot of seams on the outside of a quilt or a big block that I am having to move a lot, then I will run a staystitching line inside the 1/4" seam to not have to worry. I have heard of people backstitching when sewing all their seams. I rarely do that. Sometimes, when there is a grouping of bias cuts on the outside, I will staystitch those just to keep them from stretching.

For me it all depends on the fabric as to whether I stay stitch or not. If I see a good deal of fraying then I stay stitch. Other wise I do not. I am not opposed to it at all. I find it a necessity on blocks in a Crazy Quilt because of all the different fabrics used.
Thank you for the short tutorial and the good reminders of the value of stay stitching our blocks.

For something like a piano key border - stay stitching the outside edges really helps keep the seams from coming apart.