Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone play check_box_outline_blank check_box chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook instagram google plus pinterest linkedin radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked twitter youtube arrow-up send
Connect
Lori Kennedy Quilts
  • QAL
    • 2021 QAL
    • 2020 QAL
  • About
    • About Lori Kennedy Quilts
  • Shop
  • Motifs
    • All
    • Animals/Bugs
    • Background Fills
    • Easy/Beginner
    • Fan Favorites
    • Seasonal/Holiday
    • Patterns/Shapes
    • Illustrations
    • Flowers/Leaves
  • Machine Quilting
    • Basics
    • Quick Tips
    • Sewing Machine
    • Thread
    • Batting
    • Design
    • Ruler Work
    • Misc
  • Projects
    • Applique
    • Organization
    • Quilt
    • DIY
    • Doodles
    • Paper Piecing
    • Sewing
    • Uncategorized
  • Inspiration
    • Gallery
    • Watercolor
    • Creativity
    • All
    • Seamstresses in Fine Art

Sample Stitch in the Ditch Quilting

October 21, 2020

Today’s Topic:  Sample Stitch in the Ditch Quilting

Welcome to Week Nineteen of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.

Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.

Sign up for emails of the class HERE.

Join the private Quilting with LKQ Facebook Group HERE

Sample stitch in the ditch techniques on a simple quilt block
Good Morning, Quilters!

Yesterday we discussed the when, why and how of stitching in the ditch.  It is an important technique to have in your “workbasket” of skills and it is equally important to know when to use the different methods of stitching in the ditch.  The BEST way to decide which method is the best method for your quilt is to create samples for close comparison.

This week, make samples of these five techniques:

NOTE–The weight and loft of the batting will effect the outcomes.  These samples are stitched on low loft cotton batting where the stitch in the ditch is less obvious than higher loft battings.

Machine Guided Stitch in the Ditch

Free Motion Stitch in the Ditch (not shown here)

Free Motion Stitch Over the Ditch

Decorative Motif without Stitch in the Ditch Quilting First

Stitch in the Ditch Quilting with Decorative Motif Over

Machine Guided Stitch in the ditch

Free Motion stitch over the ditch quilting

Decorative quilting without stitching in the ditch

Decorative stitching over stitch in the ditch quilting
Ideas for Samples

Piece Mini Quilts:

To make each mini quilts, Cut 36 squares: 2-1/2 by 2-1/2.  Piece them in a 6 x6 checkerboard. Add a 3/4 inch small border (cut size + 1 1/4 inch) and a 2 inch border (cut size 2-1/2 inches.  (Page 98 of 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting).

Use leftover or “orphan” blocks from your collection.

Stitch a larger quilt and sample the five methods within the quilt

Label the blocks with the methods!

Evaluation

Which of the methods looks the best?

Do YOU prefer free motion or machine guided stitching in the ditch?

Is it worth the time to stitch “Every Stinking Seam–the Cindy Needham Way” before adding decorative motifs?

For each method, when would YOU consider using it?

Did you try a variety of threads? Which worked best?

What batting loft and fiber did you sample? Would a different batting create a different effect?

Ready for a Little Fun?

Tomorrow–let’s get out of the ditch!  We will take a pause from this technical stuff with a little trick or treating!

Friday:  stabilization–an important, but somewhat less exciting topic!

Your Straight and Narrow (emphasis on the narrow-as in front to back–not mindset) quilter,

Lori

 

 

 

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thank you!

Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books!  They are ALL bestsellers!

Machine Guided Stitch in the Ditch

Free Motion Stitch in the Ditch

Free Motion Stitch Over the Ditch

Stitch in the Ditch Quilting with Decorative Motif Over

Decorative Motif without Stitch in the Ditch Quilting First

 

Related

Share Article

Please share this:

  • 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 print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Categories

25 Week Quilt-a-Long Quilt

Tagged

Sample stitch in the ditch techniques Samples Stitch in the Ditch Quilting

20 responses to “Sample Stitch in the Ditch Quilting”

  1. Ann Ewer says:
    October 21, 2020 at 6:17 am

    Woohoo, my books arrived in South Australia today – very excited (bought one for my friend too). Thanks for your inspiration, encouragement and great information. Ann

  2. Arvilla Trag says:
    October 21, 2020 at 7:25 am

    Re log cabin quilts and the ESS approach – not this little black duck! (Apologies to Daffy Duck). In the log cabin blocks shown above there are 21 pieces of fabric. That is (if I have had enough coffee) 20 seams to ditch PER BLOCK, plus ditching between each row of blocks. In a quilt lay-out of 6 x 5 blocks that is 617 seams to ditch, if one includes the border and binding. If one does machine-guided SID that means turning the quilt 617 times (I think; pass the coffee). Plus the fact that one must reposition the needle and pull up the bottom thread 161 times. I just finished making a Storm at Sea quilt top, and am about halfway through quilting it; it’s a wedding gift for my youngest stepdaughter. I chose to do 5 parallel lines serpentining through the sashing between the 8″ squares, top to bottom and side to side, then I will do curved diamonds inside the 4″ and 2″ squares. I am also ditching HSS (Half the Stinking Seams) on this quilt wherever the parallel lines do not cross a seam. This has achieved a level of boredom I never thought to experience doing quilting. I think I will take a pass on ESS for the majority of my quilts.

    1. Bette says:
      October 21, 2020 at 7:45 am

      Arvilla, your post made me laugh out loud! I’m having my morning coffee and you got my day off to a smiling start.

      1. Arvilla Trag says:
        October 21, 2020 at 8:40 am

        Who says quilting isn’t funny? Note that I also refer to SID as BID. Still rhymes….

      2. quiltngrin says:
        October 21, 2020 at 8:56 am

        each of us has to pick our own cup’a’tea or cup’a’joe, whatever the case may be-different methods, different mind set

      3. smuza83 says:
        October 21, 2020 at 3:15 pm

        Me too, and I don’t LOL very often! I love the BID, too (assuming I chose the correct word for the “B”).

    2. Kathie Banks says:
      October 25, 2020 at 11:31 am

      This is why when my friend asked me to make her sister a quilt in August for her October birthday, I nearly had a nervous breakdown….On does not complete a work of art from first cut to label in 2 and a half months. Needless to say, I told her that since I love her sister, it MIGHT be done for her next birthday. Eating this elephant one bite at a time…on my own terms! Keep chewing Arvilla…you’ll get it done.

  3. Arvilla Trag says:
    October 21, 2020 at 9:35 am

    I could not agree more. I admire people with the patience and perseverance to SID every stinking seam. Alas, I am not one of them.

  4. Lisa Mckinney says:
    October 21, 2020 at 11:09 am

    I am thinking it is going to really depend on the design and what I want to emphasize, especially how I want the back to look. Doing a modern look or where you want the front piecing to show on the back would push me toward SID (Stitch In the Ditch) focused on block piecing, but not necessarily ESS (Every Stinking Seam). If getting a beautiful design all over the back, it seems like it might be difficult for the design to flow with SID ESS. So many decisions. I’m learning so much with this. Thanks for sharing your process.

  5. Shirley Sylvester says:
    October 21, 2020 at 11:27 am

    The quilt l am working on has 12 16″ appliqued blocks,is a large one.l SID every block,free motion around every bit of applique piece + smaller objects in blocks.My expirierance shows me,the more quilting,the longer the quilt works + lasts.
    Thank you for all the good techniques + advice,morals for me!

  6. Donna says:
    October 21, 2020 at 11:38 am

    Hi Lori,
    What about ” machine guided stitch OVER the ditch” (versus FMQ over the ditch) by setting a long, narrow wave stitch on your machine and aiming the seam toward the needle as you sew.
    L-O-V-E your books and tutorials. Simply the best.

    1. LAURIE says:
      October 21, 2020 at 1:17 pm

      What do you mean by “machine guided”?

      1. Lori Kennedy Quilts says:
        October 21, 2020 at 8:31 pm

        Feed dogs engaged with a regular foot. Like normal sewing but in the ditch. I recommend a walking foot.

    2. Lori Kennedy Quilts says:
      October 21, 2020 at 8:33 pm

      Yes!!! That’s a great idea too!

  7. Arvilla Trag says:
    October 21, 2020 at 11:54 am

    That is brilliant! I love that idea! My machine has a lot of decorative stitches; one is of a leafy vine that has “s” curves. I have just the project to use that on!

    1. Lorraine Doyno Evans says:
      October 21, 2020 at 8:17 pm

      I tried a simple decorative stitch once. Talk about boring. It takes forever. Much slower than any other stitch in the ditch.

      1. Donna says:
        October 21, 2020 at 9:50 pm

        I think because I am not accurate with SID, I can fake it with the walking foot, feed dogs engaged, serpentine/wave stitch.

      2. Arvilla Trag says:
        October 22, 2020 at 11:32 pm

        Talk about boredom – parallel lines on 75% of the surface of a queen size quilt. I saw this on another Storm at Sea and thought it looked good as well as simple. I’d rather chew my toes.

      3. WordPress.com Support says:
        October 23, 2020 at 7:30 am

        I agree! I don’t think it’s necessary to stitch in every ditch for all quilts. Just another technique…

  8. Arvilla Trag says:
    October 21, 2020 at 7:20 pm

    Smuza83 – your assumption is correct! 😈

Comments are closed.
  • Lori Kennedy Quilts

    Lori Kennedy

    Hi! I’m Lori Kennedy, machine quilter, & author from Minnesota. Check out my monthly newsletter & my articles. Machine quilting is my passion. From doodling to quilting, I’m here in my Minnesota studio to help you get quilting.

    Get Your Signed Copy Today!

    Buy Now!

    Subscribe to Blog via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 14,401 other subscribers
  • Related Articles
  • March 2021 •

    25 Week Quilt-a-Long and more

    Get Started Doodling-Scallops

  • March 2021 •

    25 Week Quilt-a-Long and more

    Four FMQ Fundamental Skills

  • March 2021 •

    25 Week Quilt-a-Long and more

    2021 Free Motion Quilt-a-Long!

BERNINA Ambassador Badge round (1)
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Copyright © 2023 Lori Kennedy Quilts. All Rights Reserved.