I need to learn to quilt not tie my quilts. Where do you start FMQ or SITD? I've read that stitching in the ditch isn't as easy as it looks. I have no experience with either one. Where do you all suggest I start?
Printable View
I need to learn to quilt not tie my quilts. Where do you start FMQ or SITD? I've read that stitching in the ditch isn't as easy as it looks. I have no experience with either one. Where do you all suggest I start?
The ditch is the first step. Once you get control over that, then try FMQing.
I'm going to tell you, stitch in the ditch is a pain in the posterior! I can FMQ, just kept practicing at it until I "got" it. Something I tried recently, that I think anyone could do is wavy line quilting. It was fast, easy and fun with the added plus of not having to worry about keeping anything straight or in a specific area. Some machines have a big serpentine stitch, mine doesn't, so I just wiggled and waved my quilt to make my wavy lines. You use a walking foot or the even feed if your machine has it.
http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/mem...dern-close.jpg
wow, that picture is big.
I like that Karen! I'm going to try that one.
Annie this site is cool to study how to use your walking foot. You can do a lot of things with it.
Petit Design Co: 31 Days of Walking Foot Quilting
I would suggest doing what Karen said. SITD is NOT easy. You are better of stitching next to the ditch than trying to stay in it. You can also quilt straight lines in a grid pattern. I think you need to try what is easiest for you, based on the size of your project.
I agree about SITD...mine is usually SNTD. When I think ditch, I think large, deep culvert. There is nothing large nor deep about a quilt ditch! If you can live with near the ditch (and I can) it's great. If you can't, you might prefer another quilting finish.
Maybe watch this and see if it helps.
Quilty: How to Stitch in the Ditch - YouTube
The key to SITD is to have patience and go slow. I went very slow and you couldn't tell I did SITD and that was my first time. It's not hard. Go SLOWLY.Quote:
Originally Posted by Annie Pearl
Grid quilting or quilting wavy lines is another option as mentioned.. Simpler than stitch in the ditch for me, though even my wavy lines using the walking foot on a big quilt have uneven stitches. : (
I think free motion quilting depends a lot on how bothered you are by uneven stitches. It makes me a little nuts, but my daughter enjoys it and uneven stitches don't bother her at all.
I've recently taken another class on machine quilting. I'd advise you to look at Craftsy or other you tube videos for help. Good luck!
I use a presser foot that has a guide which keeps you in the "ditch". Actually when I do SITD I do not use the walking foot and fortunately have not had a problem yet. Another tip I've heard is press the intersection seams open so there aren't any "bumps" which can throw you off course.
There have been a lot of good suggestions here, and I hope that nothing I say will seem to contradict the good advice you've received. In particular I like Karen's wavy line quilting method. Her photo gave me one of those "Why didn't I ever think of that?" moments.
My quilting journey has been a little different. I began with SITD and a good attitude. In other words, I didn't care when my stitch jumped out of the ditch. To this day, those not-in-the-ditch stitches do not bother me a bit.
Once I was ready to move to FMQ, I bought a Juki and a Little Gracie quilt frame off Craigslist. To this day, I haven't been able to FMQ on a regular sewing machine. As I said, seeing Karen's photo may open up new possibilities for me, but I'm not there yet.
Please post your first quilting. We'd love to see what you do!
I agree. I took it slow and had no problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by soul60s
Karen, I love your quilting!!! So much more movement & it gives a great texture to the quilt..
I am guessing this might be easier than SITD, but I may be wrong...
Good job. :)
Karen... I love your wavy lines quilting..... I've done something along that line.....big curves used as quilting "lines"....
I'm real not so good at SITD...it's a lot harder than it looks... I like to do a wide meander....
The wavy lines, of any sort.....are a great solution. Easy, with no pressure to "get it right ".
I cannot stitch a straight line if I have to follow a line, so marking my quilt or SITD are a pain in the you know what for me. I find FMQ much easier and far more enjoyable. But as with anything, practice is key. But I would watch some youtube, visit sites like craftsy.com, and then make some quilt sandwiches to practice on from scraps, and try them both and see what works best for you. When I first started, I was afraid the quilt police would come after me because I accidentally crossed lies when doing stippling. But then I found out that it was ok to cross lines AND ....there are no quilt police, so do what makes you happy and what you enjoy.
I love wavy line quilting...recently discovered it and use it allot...much easier than STD or FMQ and is still unique to the individual who is doing the stitching.Quote:
Originally Posted by K. McEuen
I found that if I am sure to press all my seams to one side, and sometimes I have to repress to do this… then stitch close to the seam on the side that does not have that bulk, the needle seems to follow it easily. and yes go slowly.
hope that makes sense
this was what helped me be more successful at SITD
Sandy
I noticed this same thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy
I don't have the right kind of machine foot for FMQ - yet! ;) - so I have only done SITD. BUT... if you are a beginner, you can just zig-zag over the "ditches" if you like; that way you will get used to having all the layers under the needle and all that fabric in the throat.
One day, I'm going to get that foot, and then I'll be able to try FMQ'ing!
Stitch AROUND the ditch.
Sew Preeti Quilts: Circle Sewing Studio
With a very good matching thread, I LOVE to stitch in the ditch, going very slow & using your great feet normally supplied with your machine.
After I learned that pretty good, I also LOVE to stitch the foot width of the machine away from each 'ditch,' approximately 1/4" away from your seams.
I also like to use an 'echo' stitch, which is just an outline of the lock & each echo getting further away from the prior echo. Works really well for Sunbonnet Sue, etc.
Fourth, likely the easiest of all, is using a straight stitch across your entire quilt, being sure that your sitch lines are equally the same distant apart in your entire quilt. Tape helps me keep that line straight.
Good luck to you as you learn various ways to quilt away!
With a very good matching thread, I LOVE to stitch in the ditch, going very slow & using your great feet normally supplied with your machine.
After I learned that pretty good, I also LOVE to stitch the foot width of the machine away from each 'ditch,' approximately 1/4" away from your seams.
I also like to use an 'echo' stitch, which is just an outline of the lock & each echo getting further away from the prior echo. Works really well for Sunbonnet Sue, etc.
Fourth, likely the easiest of all is using a straight stitch across your entire quilt, being sure that your sitch lines are equally the same in your entire quilt. Tape helps me keep that line straight.
Good luck to you as you learn various ways to quilt away!