I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions - The Quilting Forum - Missouri Star's Quilt Community Login or Sign Up Logging in... Remember me Log in Forgot password or user name? or Sign Up Log in with Search in titles only Search in Quilting Questions only Search Advanced Search Forums Groups Gallery Tutorials Daily Deal Quilt Shop New Topics Member List Calendar Forum We don't know much, but we know quilters Quilting Questions If this is your first visit to the Missouri Star Quilt Co's "Quilter's Forum", be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. We can't wait to hear what you have to say! - Happy Quilting! Announcement Collapse No announcement yet. I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions Collapse X Collapse Posts Latest Activity Photos Search Page of 1 Filter Time All Time Today Last Week Last Month Show All Discussions only Photos only Videos only Links only Polls only Events only Filtered by: Clear All new posts Previous template Next Mams1017 Junior Member Shiny Thimble Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 4 #1 I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions November 30, 2010, 09:00 AM HI! I am somewhat new at quilting (about 2 years) and all I ever do to quilt my pieces is stitch in the ditch. I would like to go out of my comfort zone and try other ways of quilting out. I have a regular Singer maching and I am not sure I can move the quilt around enough to make the nice free form designs of quilting. Would I need different feet for the machine? Lots of questions! THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS! Missy Tags: None quiltnut Senior Member Block Queen Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 149 #2 November 30, 2010, 10:55 AM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions You will need a free motion foot for quilting patterns or doodleling stitches,look on UTube for ideas on what its like.You can make all sorts of different free hand motions with the free motion foot.I like to do pattern like a jig saw type.Depending on how old your machine is,you can to buy a free motion foot accessory. Quilting is good therapy. Comment Post Cancel Dragonfly Senior Member The Guild President Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 948 #3 November 30, 2010, 02:30 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions In addition to a free motion foot you need to be able to lower or cover you feed dogs. There really is a huge amount of info available on youtube for free motion quilting have fun but remember it will not be perfect the first time you try (unless you are very lucky) so it is all about practice practice until you are comfortable with moving around with the quilt. Lynn "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's about learning to dance in the rain" Anonymous. Comment Post Cancel debinmalaga Senior Member Missouri Star Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2458 #4 November 30, 2010, 02:36 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions Dragonfly is right on about practice practice. I also found it helpful to wear gardening gloves when I'm free motion quilting - makes it much easier to move the fabric around. There are also special gloves you can buy. There's still time to change the road you're on - Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven" Comment Post Cancel Patrice Senior Member Missouri Star Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1958 #5 November 30, 2010, 02:40 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions If you have only stitched in the ditch you could even try some other stitches with your walking foot for something different. If you have some decorative stitches on your machine try some of those. You could also try I think it is called cross hatching where you end up with one in blocks everywhere at an angle. lots of things you could do with your walking foot if you are not ready for the free motion. I do okay with it on something very small but put it on a big quilt and I just don't do that well. Patrice Comment Post Cancel shell.scraps Senior Member Missouri Star Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1208 #6 November 30, 2010, 03:21 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions I think that straight line quilting (out of the ditch) is wonderful!! You can do diamonds, squares, simple lines, varied distance rows....so many options and you never have to free motion a thing!! You only need a walking foot and a well pinned quilt sandwich! Michele Comment Post Cancel patticakes Senior Member Missouri Star Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1218 #7 November 30, 2010, 04:12 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions I agree with everyone on the straight line quilting, you can shadow and crosshatch. I use a darning foot to free motion and there is certainly a learning curve! I have watched alot of YouTube and read whatever hints I could find on quilting boards about stitch length and the speed of the sewing machine, but I have been just playing around with doing free motion on table runners and place mats. Just doing a kind of loop-de-loop so I could get the feel of it. It is starting to get better. I dream of the day I can make it look as easy as some do! Good luck! Patti Patti "Like" me on Facebook @ Sweet Cherry Quilting to help spread the love of all things crafty and quilted! Comment Post Cancel shell.scraps Senior Member Missouri Star Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1208 #8 November 30, 2010, 05:59 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions yes you can free motion with the darning foot...pretty well I might add since that's what I use You should make some 18x18 sandwiches and just practice....practice...practice!! Make sure you are placing your hands right and are able to get a nice fluid movement on your fabric without letting the back layer get stuck and pucker...it's going to take a while to get used to it... Michele Comment Post Cancel jrchapman Senior Member The Guild President Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 623 #9 December 1, 2010, 11:01 AM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions I've only attempted straight line stitching on my machine so far but I've found you can get some interesting patterns and effects if you stitch either side of your seam rather than in it. It's also easier because it doesn't show as much if you go a bit wibbly! I have bought a free motion foot but I haven't had the time to practice with it yet so I'm sticking with the straight lines. Quilting through the dull times northstarquilting.blogspot.com Comment Post Cancel plix Senior Member Quilting Royalty Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 152 #10 December 4, 2010, 04:14 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions I'm new at free motion too. A good way to practice is making dog & cat beds for the Humane Society. They love getting them, & the animals don't care if they aren't perfect. The size is perfect for practicing: bigger than a placemat, & smaller than a real quilt. And I can use lotsa scrap fabric. Just don't give up. Keep trying. I have also drawn designs on paper, put an old needle in my machine & stitched on the lines with no thread. Kinda addicting if you're not careful. Have fun If at first you DO succeed, try not to look so surprised. Comment Post Cancel debinmalaga Senior Member Missouri Star Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2458 #11 December 4, 2010, 07:15 PM Re: I only stitch in the ditch... any other suggestions Plix, what a WONDERFUL suggestion about the Humane society! There's still time to change the road you're on - Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven" Comment Post Cancel Previous template Next English (US) Deutsch (Du) English (US) French Spanish Help Contact Us Privacy Go to top All Content Copyright Missouri Star Quilt Co LLC All times are GMT-6. This page was generated at 09:55 AM. Working... Yes No OK OK Cancel X