This quilting technique involves stitching in the seamlines, or ditches, between your pieced fabrics. All Rights Reserved. Do you press your quilt seams open or to one side? His rationale was that you could pierce the seam threads and significantly weaken the quilt. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! So the trade is less perfection, but much easier! Getting a good grip on the quilt is important so you can keep it moving smoothly through the machine and allow the walking foot to do it's job. When I do log cabin quilts I play with the decorative stitches on my machine, with shiny embroidery thread (50 weight rayon) and use a dual feed foot. You will love taking a quilt workshop because you get to see each step of the quilting process with great instructions!Click Here to check out our online quilting workshops. With a short stitch length locking your pieces together, there is no issue with pressing your seams open and flat. Keep in mind, this was in a day when batting wasn't needlepunched, but raw cotton pulled apart and more or less evenly spread between the layers of cotton fabric. Which brings us to our next option — outline quilting. Join the private Quilting with LKQ Facebook Group HERE. Is it possible for my feed dogs to be “out of sync” with each other or not properly aligned? This tutorial is on how to stitch in the ditch using your sewing machine. Stitch in the Ditch quilting, sometimes abbreviated as SID, is stitching a line through the ditch created by a pieced seam. If a certain technique helps you make a quilt better, faster, or easier, then stick with it. Check out my monthly newsletter & my articles. It worked great! Simply outline every block and all of the seams and voila–your quilt is quilted. Piece them in a 6 x6 checkerboard. Other quilters press the seams to one side. ; Place the quilt under the presser foot with the guide in the seam (ditch) of the pieced quilt patches. He likes Quilting Grips because they put less pressure on his fingertips. I like ditch quilting to emphasize the geometric shapes in a lot of quilts, especially wall hangings. I am beginning to think that rulers to SID is definitely worth trying. Stitch in the Ditch (SID) can make or break a custom quilt. Next, I want to call out the fabulous ideas shared in the comment section relating to ideas and experience with basting techniques. It is when you stitch right next to the seams in the quilt. When dealing with the seams of the blocks, they are 1/4" seams...it is common to press them to the darker side of the the block. 25 Week Quilt-a-Long As a new quilter I have started with table runners. The advantage of this method is there is no design necessary. The needle would go directly into the open seam, catching only threads. If you try to “Stitch in the Ditch” on a quilt where the quilt seams have been pressed open, you will be quilting along the seam line right between the pieces of the quilt top, and instead of securing the backing, batting, and top, you’ll be securing the backing and batting while tacking the top in place. There are many quilting techniques that are subject to quilting debate. It is a great technique to highlight shapes or your blocks. Got bless…. YOUR quilts are amazing and YOU constantly inspire me with new ideas. The idea of pressing seams always to one side is pretty old school. Machine quilting is my passion. I love that look. What the stitch lines do is keep each square or color separate from the other ones next to it. If you prefer pressed-open seams or visible quilting lines, you want to use this … I had to think about this for a long time, but realized he was correct. Hello my quilting friends and welcome to this beginner quilting tutorial on Stitching in the Ditch, or Ditching as I like to call it! We will definitely need to “circle back” to the basting lesson as soon as we get through our 25 Week Quilt-a-long! Like many things in quilting and patchwork, much of the debate comes from our hand piecing and hand quilting roots. Set the stitch length, adjust the tension and stitch. You can make the problem worse by stitching in the ditch, because you’re not quilting the fabric, you’re quilting your piecing thread. I sometimes use “invisible” thread for SID. Additional decorative motifs are then layered on top. I love the spirit of sharing and helpfulness within the group! The back of the two 4-patch units shows seams pressed two different ways. Don’t get frustrated. (Page 98 of 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting). Engage the IDT™ system. In other words: QUILT DOOM! By piecing with a tight stitch length of 1.5 mm, you will lock your pieces together so securely, even if the needle comes down exactly right, it's not going to create a hole in your quilt because of all the other stitches holding the pieces together. From doodling to quilting, I’m here in my Minnesota studio to help you get quilting. This will further weaken your seams by possibly severing some of those stitches as you quilt and separating your fabric at the seams. The higher quality threads we use now are also significantly better than the threads our grandmothers used, so our patchwork is going to be pieced more durably than ever before. But come on! Any tips? Stitching in the ditch is best seen in person. Welcome to Lesson Nineteen of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting. and more. The wavy line looks intentional (as opposed to trying to stitch straight with accidental waves). To stitch in the ditch is to sew in the 'well of the seam', right where two quilt fabrics join. However, you can press them open if together, they bulk to much. All Rights Reserved. Only when your seams have been pressed to the side can you stitch in the literal ditch and still secure the quilt top to the batting and backing. On small quilts that are easy to move around I do use my dual feed with a foot made for stitching in the ditch. I’m Lori Kennedy, machine quilter, & author from Minnesota. I’m really leaning more to that serpentine stitching over the seams. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Hi! Use lightweight thread in a matching or neutral color for most stitch in the ditch quilting. Speaking of moving on, we have more tutorials in this series for you to enjoy! If you try to stitch right ON the seam line (as there would be no ditch), you run the risk of cutting the seam line. I recently made a quilt with many HST’s with pressed-open seams. You don’t need fancy stencils or to learn any motifs. After years of sewing garments, I find doing a serpentine stitches line over a seam or marking line more challenging than stitching in the ditch. If you piece with a short stitch length like 1.5 mm, then you will lock your pieces together so firmly, they will be very challenging to rip apart. So instead I pressed the seams open and top stitched along the seams on both sides. Stitch in the ditch quilting can be stitched machine guided or free motion. Unfortunately it is snowing in Minnesota right now!! Be aware that for a single line of stitches it is almost certain that you will switch from one side to the other of the seam at least once while ditch quilting. Add a 3/4 inch small border (cut size + 1 1/4 inch) and a 2 inch border (cut size 2-1/2 inches. Stitching in the ditch can also have you separate different colors when you are making something simple like a mug rug. Center your needle . To create your own samples this week, either find a few “orphan blocks” for practice or create two mini quilts shown here. Instead of trying to stitch perfectly straight within the ditch, I stitch a slightly wavy line over the ditch. No, I don't think so. (I expect this when doing 1/4″ seams, because the fabric is not over the righthand feed dogs.) Then stitch on the lower side as close as possible to where the fabrics are joined. Because the bag is still open along the bottom the side seams are pretty easy to press open and stitch. I really like to make those swirly curly lines in swirls and feathers when I FMQ. To attach fabric pieces to another with a seam, almost invisibly This is stitching on the right side, in a pressed-open seam, to fasten another piece of fabric underneath. If seams allowances are pressed to one side, these stitches are made on the side of the seam with just one layer of fabric. The ditch you are stitching in will vary depending on how you have prepared the patchwork seams. The last thing I want to do is spend time staring at my quilt trying to figure out which side of the ditch I should stitch on. This type of quilting works best when the seams of the blocks are pressed to one side. To explain: many quilters believe pressing seams open and stitching right in the ditch the needle may come down at exactly the wrong place and cut the threads holding your pieces together. Otherwise, like Ritzy, I would be concerned about stitching in the ditch when the seams are pressed open. Now for the technique. I attended a lecture a few years ago by an experienced long-armed who advised NOT using SID in blocks or areas of blocks where the seams are pressed open. In this method, the blocks are outlined and appear set within the batting using very light weight thread. One reason many quilters like to pressing quilt seams open is that they feel the pieces lay stronger. Even just off to the side an 1/8th or 1/16th of an inch, would be better than on the seam. I did SID around the blocks, but only stitched near, not on, those pressed-open seams. But what about stitches being cut by your needle as you ditch? Ultimately I know this is a debate that will continue to be debated by quilters everywhere. We have created many online quilting workshops to guide you through all the steps to creating beautiful quilts. This is so unlikely, not to mention completely avoidable. I’ve done serpentine stitching over the ditch and it’s a perfect way to quilt for a male or on something uber modern. Another option is free motion stitch in the ditch quilting. FANTASTIC CUSTOMER SERVICE. Unfortunately, if you were to stitch in the ditch, you would not catch fabric but threads. Stitch right in the ditch and you eliminate the question! If the threads break, there will be holes in the seam and batting can leak through, ruining the entire project. It would have been really cute way to secure a quilt for my 18 month old great-niece. Fabric plus thread equals strength. If the seams have been pressed open (which is what I almost always do) the stitches will sit right in the seam line where the fabrics meet. In the comments I’ve read about SID using a ruler. This is a time consuming method, but the results are beautiful! When I make a block quilt, SID is strictly a stabilizing step or a means to travel while FMQ something pretty. The gloves help me grip the quilt and shift it into position easily. Or to stabilize a quilt (more on stabilizing later this week). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Try … In this case the “ditch” is on the side opposite the seams–sometimes called the “well”. Tomorrow: Four Samples of Stitch in the Ditch Quilting. That makes sense to me! Stitch in the Ditch Quilting with Walking Foot #50. There will always be those who prefer one technique over another and we all have reasons to justify our decisions. Learn how to stitch in the ditch in the Heart Medallion Checkerboard Quilt in this quilting video tutorial: Click Here to find the quilting gloves I'm wearing in this video. Love shopping and talking to you on the phone. I recently noticed that when my feed dogs are up I have to make an effort to keep smaller quilts from veering slightly to the left unless I am using the walking foot, which might be contributing to my more errant machine-guided SID. Leah weighs in on the Great Quilting Debate in this Hello My Quilting Friends Podcast. The down side to machine guided quilting is you can only stitch in one direction. Seems I would be struggling trying to manage a ruler , staying in the ditch and helping the uilt ti move correctly ( not pull ). Please check that out for more basting ideas. (Takes more time to stitch the seam and harder to seam rip when needed.) As you sew, make sure the blade doesn’t cross over onto your top fabric. Quilting friendships have been lost, seam ripper wars have been waged, and the very fabric of the quilting community has been brought to its knees over this conflict. Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books! If you try to stitch right ON the seam line (as there would be no ditch), you run the risk of cutting the seam line. Thank you! PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. How to use: Attach the Stitch-in-Ditch Foot. Also, when hand quilting, it was easier to stitch in the ditch if the bulk of the seams was out of the way. Any time you need to change directions, you must turn the quilt. My dad, who also quilts, doesn't prefer the gloves because his hands are so much larger than mine. Whenever you stitch a seam between two blocks in a quilt, a “ditch” is created. The key with all quilting techniques is to try it and see what works for you. When seams are pressed open, stitching in the ditch is not an option. This looks the best on the front and back of your quilt and is the easiest to explain and understand. I often adopt a hybrid solution…Free motion stitching over the ditch. In other words: QUILT DOOM! Once the layers of the quilt are sandwiched, it’s time to start quilting. Upholding a long tradition of being the oddball, I actually manage to stay in the ditch better with free-motion. I find without the gloves, I tend to clench the quilt in my hands, which starts to hurt in a short space of time. Lofts of adjoining seams are ideally pressed in opposite directions so they will butt against each together when placed right-sides together for sewing, helping to create … Carol Congratulations! That to me is actually QUILT DOOM! If your seams are pressed open, I wouldn’t suggest that you stitch in the ditch when quilting your project. Lightweight, matching color thread for stitch in the ditch. To ensure the big hand stitches weren't a liability, quilters would press seams to one side so the threads were tucked within the fold of the fabric. Stitch in the ditch quilting is functional without being decorative. Free Motion Stitch OVER the Ditch Quilting. Using a dowel or pressing sleeve or other tool makes it more readily accomplished. Pressing Seam Allowances to One Side . Most quilters these days a sewing machine for quilt piecing, which produces consistently spaced stitches that lock fabrics together. If you haven’t been keeping up–don’t worry! The trick is to REMEMBER TO FEEL FOR IT before sewing the upcoming section of seam. Thank you so much ! For example, if you were working on a log cabin quilt, you could stitch in the ditch of all the seams and you would have a perfectly quilted quilt. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. The serpentine quilting would be okay too. I also like to use a straight edge quilting ruler and a ruler foot when stitching in the ditch on larger quilts. https://lorikennedyquilts.com/stitching-in-the-ditch-when-why-and-how It is much easier for me and I do like the looks of it in my overall project. Stitching in the ditch – o.k. You don’t want to notice the stitching line, though you may see it. Stitch-in-the-ditch is not an option for quilting, so the quilting will have to show. Again, this is subject to heated debates, but yes, I believe it's okay to stitch right in the middle of that ditch. The lessons will be here when you are ready. It’s a great time to play with the hundreds of beautiful stitches available and if I’m not exactly in the ditch, no one will ever notice. Pieced with seams pressed to one side–stitch on the “well” side. Click the links below to find the next tutorial in this series: Click Here to learn how to make the Heart Medallion Checkerboard Quilt.If you enjoyed this series, consider taking a quilting class with me! Just kidding - it's really not that big of a deal! Even though stitching in the ditch is usually invisible on the top of the quilt, the stitches add depth where they compress the quilt batting and are completely visible on the back of the quilt. Use a smaller stitch to accommodate bias seams. If a technique makes you want to tear your hair out, chuck it and move on! Machine Guided Stitch in the Ditch Quilting. And then with machine quilting, you can "stitch in the ditch" to the quilting on the top. Any time during the quilting process, How: Machine guided, Free motion (in or over the ditch). Once your stitch in the ditch foot is properly installed on your machine, drop the presser foot and align the center blade of the foot with the seam – it should drop right in. (Clear for lighter colored quilts or smoky for dark quilts). Just note that this style of stitch in the ditch won’t work for seams that have been pressed open. I know you’re enjoying the autumn colors of Minn now. If the threads break, there will be holes in the seam and batting can leak through, ruining the entire project. If your seams are pressed to one side, from the right side there will be a slight rise on one side of the seam. What foot do you use? You know how when... Gently pull the fabric apart.. This’ll spread open the seam a little more so that you’re less likely to catch the high... Sew slow.. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. I like the idea of serpentine lines stitched over the ditch. A method I have used many times is to use a decorative stitch and stitch over the ditch. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Definitely more forgiving…and freeing. ideas and experience with basting techniques. Don’t have to turn the quilt and you can keep a fairly straight line this way. All types of quilting stitches secure the three layers of a quilt sandwich. Some projects require seams to be pressed to one side, in others the seams are pressed open. All stitch in the ditch refers to is sewing along the seams of all the square blocks you have placed in your quilt. How you have pressed the seams to be quilted will make a slight difference in how you ditch quilt them. ... We will also focus on troubleshooting methods of how to deal with seams that are pressed to the side or open and what to do when the points don’t match. Quilting designs for pressed-open seams can be just as effective as quilting designs for … You will leave this class with a new appreciation for SID, and new tools to take that next custom quilt to the next level. This is when you really appreciate working with Soft and Stable. One of the biggest debates is whether to stitch right in the ditch - right inside the seam joining two fabrics together - or slightly out of the ditch to one side or the other. To”set” the pieced design before free motion designs are added on top (a la Cindy Needham). I make less traditional quilts and it just feels good to lighten up. Love the idea of a “serpentine” stitch over the ditch. That way it catches the fabric on both sides and is actually a lot easier than trying to stay in the ditch. With seams pressed open, there is no ditch, and the stabilizing stitches sink between the seams. Stitch In The Ditch is the FIRST online shop I check when I am looking for something. Wish I were (back) there…sigh… Today’s Topic: Stitching In the Ditch-When, Why and How. SID can be fabulous when wanting to highlight a certain area though, so I do do that by ruler. When you purchase fabric, it will always arrive feeling slightly … I tried SID with rulers, but my FMQ lines were straighter. (If the seams are pressed open, the stitches are made in the center where the fabrics meet.) Speaking of that–can you believe we are already starting Lesson 19! Then, after the quilt is finished, playing tug-of-war with someone using the finished quilt as the rope, can indeed pop the seams and cause your quilt to fall apart. I just finished quilting a jelly roll quilt made entirely of long strips and wish I’d seen Heartland Honey’s suggestion to use decorative stitches. so choose thread accordingly. To Stitch in the Ditch or Stitch Slightly-Out-of-the-Ditch...This is Confusing! Press open the seam allowance, keep the fabric underneath and stitch along the seam – thus joining the fabric … Prepare Your Fabric Properly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. One option for quilting an entire quilt is to stitch in the ditch of all the major blocks. No, I don't think so. My SID lines are never perfectly straight, and I don’t sweat it. Photos of my quilts don’t tell the story. Rulers are the next thing on my list to master. when seams are pressed to the side. The disadvantage of pressing open is that the fabric can pull apart at the seams, allowing batting to migrate out of the quilt. Back in the day when you pieced fabrics together by hand, your stitches probably weren't very small or consistent. It is harder to maintain a perfectly straight “in the ditch” line when free motion quilting, however, it is not necessary to rotate the quilt as often. Can be challenging to press seams open. The machine controls the stitch, so all you need to do is control the quilt. I really like the serpentine idea, too, although I am not sure it would be distinguishable from my normal SID. Stitch length for piecing patchwork is 2.0 (about 13 stitches per inch) . I have tried the machine stitched zig zag over seams and I like the look of that, too. That's just how it is! They are ALL bestsellers! To make each mini quilts, Cut 36 squares: 2-1/2 by 2-1/2. I like using a ruler for ditch stitching. This week, we will be covering two separate but related topics, stitching in the ditch and stabilizing. In the ditch quilting is also called stitch in the ditch! Some quilters press the seams of the quilt open, in which case the “ditch” is between the two pieces. If the seams have been pressed to the side during the piecing process, ditch stitching will involve sewing slightly off the seam line, on the side with just one layer of fabric. Interesting. I’m thrilled to hear you are enjoying the lessons! Most quilters usually prefer to press seams to one side because a little bump called loft forms when two layers of fabric are pressed together along the length of a seam.
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