Yep!!!!! Thats about it!!! Good luck,,,its a pretty result!!!

Jackie,
There may be a more correct way but when I hand stitch, I stitch about 1/8 to 1/4 inch away from the seam. The important thing is to try to keep it even distance from the seam. I think that stitching in the seam would make stitching very difficult.
I would like to hear what other hand stitchers say about this.
What is the correct way?
Sally

Hand quilting in the ditch is considered fairly difficult. It would be better to stitch 1/8-inch away from the ditch, IMO. Not sure what the correct way is, but you are having to force your needle down into the ditch which is already filled with those little 2.5 machine stitches.
Teresa

The way I understand it - and keep in mind that I am self-taught, and I truly believe there is more than one way to do alot of things in quilting -- I do "stitch in the ditch" by quilting on the side of the seam that has the least bulk, a scant amt to the side of the actual seam - not on the stitches themselves in the seam, but a few threads over. Stitch in the ditch can be by hand or by machine. In fact a class I took once on sewing men's trousers, instructed us to "stitch in the ditch" when sewing the fly, and that is the first time I ever heard that expression, and it was to stitch with the machine a scant amt. from the seam, along the seam.

When I was taught to "stitch in the ditch" it was to stitch where the actual seam is. It is Very difficult. I have done a few this way. The "correct" way (who is really to say what is correct) is to quilt 1/4" inside from the seam, but I personally don't like the look of it. I quilt about 1/8" in from the side.

It is easier to quilt on the side with no bulk, but that is really some that needs to be thought of ahead of the sewing. I always like to look at the pattern and decide where I want to quilt. Then I make sure sew accordingly.

Everyone does it differently and there is really no wrong way to do it. Do whatever you think will look the best. let your quilter's eye lead the way:) And...... Always have fun with it:))

Lynette

The proper way..according to what I've read in books..is a few threads away from the seam. It's fast and easy if you stay on the low side..away from the seam allowance. The term comes from the actual "ditch" you'll start seeing as you go.
Your stitching will pretty much disappear and it gives you a chance to perfect(ha ha)your stitches before you venture out in the open where everybody can see them ;)
Bon
:)

Since I only do hand applique and hand quilting, to me stitching "in the ditch" means around the applique. Because I want the quilting to show up, I don't quilt RIGHT next to the applique, but go out at least 1/16" around.
If quilting piecework, there are lots of seams. If the seams are pressed both to one side, I would quilt "in the ditch" meaning on the OTHER side, quilting through only 2 layers of fabric (plus batting), instead of 4 layers of fabric.
On applique quilts, I press the block and border seams open, to minimize bulk. So the most I would have to hand quilt through is 3 layers of fabric (front, backing, and one seam allowance) plus batting. Also the quilting would be diagonally across the seams, never along a seam.
BlueBars

I never stitch in the ditch for two reasons: it HURTS and breaks needles and is a true pain in the patooty; and because if I am going to go to all that trouble to handquilt, I want it TO BE SEEN! dagnabbit!

Marti in Mexico

I'm with you Marti :)

I'm with you too Marti. I think I started out handquilting this way - it is soooo boring but it does hide those stitches until you get the technique down.
Jean

This is a basic technique that might be of interest to new hand quilters.

I've only hand quilted one full sized quilt so far, and it was a rather complicated tumbling block. It was busy enough without adding a quilting pattern to it, so I considered stitching in the ditch, but like Marti said, if I am going to go to that much work, I wanted the quilting to be seen! I went to one side of the seams, prolly an eighth to a quarter inch. One quilting book I was reading called this "shadow" quilting. Other projects I've worked on like quilted pillow shams, I machined and it was really in the ditch. I'd not consider doing that by hand. My hands hurt enough for weeks after finishing off a project.