FMQ vs SITD

[Annie Pearl]

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?

[Jean Sewing Machine]

The ditch is the first step. Once you get control over that, then try FMQing.

[K. McEuen]

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.

[K. McEuen]

wow, that picture is big.

[Hulamoon]

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

[auntiemern]

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.

[jsmetcalf]

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.

[Hulamoon]

Maybe watch this and see if it helps.

Quilty: How to Stitch in the Ditch - YouTube

[soul60s]

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 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.

[cathym]

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!