AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Question Hi, I'm working on my first quilt, and now that I'm ready for the actual "quilting" process, I have a ton of questions. First of all I plan to machine quilt, "in the ditch" style.
Why does the stitches need to be on the opposite side of where the seams have been pressed, and how am I suppose to know where that is, when I've basted the whole thing with pins? Also, isn't "in-the-ditch" inside every shape, 1/4" from every line? So why am I expected to "choose" the side? Does my question make sense?
Another major thing I don't understand, is when quilting, where do you cut the thread, so that you don't have loose thread coming out from all over the place on your quilt? (Like the wrong side of the quilt top)
I hope my questions have made sense enough for you to answer them....Thanks!
Answer Hi, Jennifer,
"In-the-ditch" means right on top of the seam between 2 pieces. The quilting won't be seen on the front of the quilt but will add dimension to the pieces quilted around.
"Inside-each-shape-1/4" means a quilting line which is, indeed, 1/4" inside the seam taken.
The reason the stitches need to be *geared* toward the opposite side of where the seams have been pressed is that that side of the seam is lower and less bulky than the one where the seams have been pressed. If machine stitches puncture the pressed-seam side of the "ditch" (seam), they will have a more unsightly visibility than those which puncture the non-seam-allowances side of the seam.
Each time quilting is stopped, cut threads long enough (3"-4") to tie them into a knot, thread into a needle, and bury the thread ends within the batting [by lightly yanking the threads as they are pulled through the batting, causing the knot to go under the fabric layer], where they will not show on the front or on the back of the quilt. It is not necessary to tie knots along the raw edge of the quilt, as that edge will be trimmed after quilting, before binding the edge. Consequently, it is desirable to machine quilt from raw edge to raw edge on the quilt, if possible, in order to minimize dealing with cut threads.
Libraries have many books with basic quilting information, including photos, which can make it much easier to visualize, if you have easy access to a library.
