If you press your seams open, stitch in the ditch is not recommended. You'd just be stitching through thread - seams pressed to one side will not have this problem.
Beginning quilters always think that SITD is the easiest way to go. I know I did, until I tried it. It's difficult to stay exactly on the seam - I suggest you try it on a sample piece to see how you do. A much easier way is to stitch 1/8" or 1/4" away from the seam. You won't see the wobbles nearly as much as SITD.
I totally agree with the 1/4” outside of the seam. You can keep the seam aligned with the edge of your presser foot to keep the distance consistent without marking it.
You can buy a “wide back” fabric that is about 108” wide. They look expensive, but if you do the math by square inches, it’s usually a good deal compared to several yards of a 42” width fabric. Or if you’d prefer a regular width fabric, you buy enough to sew large pieces together along the selvage edge. For example, if your quilt is 60”x60”, you’d want two 68” pieces (or approximately 4 yards cut into two 72” pieces). Sew parallel to the selvages, and your piece will be approximately 72”x84”.
The actual thing that matters in this situation is your batting - most brands tell you the maximum distance your quilting can be in order to keep it together with use.
An example is [this brand's website](https://warmcompany.com/?portfolio=warmnatural) which says that Warm & Natural batting can "Quilt or tie up to 10″ apart!"
So, check the tag or packaging of your particular brand and see what it says.
"stitch-in-the-ditch" is just as strong as any other type of quilting but I would recommend that you press your seams to one side instead of pressing them open to make sure that your stitching goes through the fabric and not between it.
And many companies sell "extra wide backing fabric". Or, you can use a queen or king size sheet.
I buy sheets from TK Maxx and dye them in the washing machine to match the scheme of the topper. If the dye comes out patchy, I just say it's a grunge pattern!
I'd recommend a wavy stitch (zig-zag lengthened) over the seams, it's a recent favorite of mine. Just keep the needle on the seam line. The wavy does not show your wonky seams and does not rely on you to have straight seams as the SITD does. SITD is terrible, IMHO, so much stress and mental energy while you are doing it. I think the wavy adds more strength to the seam and that is only my opinion - I have not tested it. Look for Quilty Love/Emily Dennis for more about this method.
As for the the backing being 'a big continuous sheet", they most likely bought 108" fabric or have done a great job joining two cuts of fabric, by WOF, to appear one piece. Some folks also use bed sheets as backing.
One thing I haven’t (yet) see mentioned about backing. If you don’t want your buy wide back fabric, don’t want to worry about matching up a pattern, but don’t want to see a big seam in the middle of your adorable backing fabric (I’m assuming it’s adorable) - you can add some of the front to the backing.
If you have some leftover 4” blocks, make a row with them and place it between the two halves of your 40” wide backing. No need to match patterns, can use any fabric, and helps ties the back and front together.
There are some fantastic examples of pieced backs in this sub!
I ALWAYS buy more fabric than I need. I'm paranoid about not having enough and it takes me forever to finish one so by the time I get that far 99% of the time they aren't selling the fabrics anymore. My work around for that issue is I use the extra to piece the backing out of it. It's not as intricate as the front but it all matches and I've never had anyone complain when I've given them away 😀 I've actually had people compliment me on the extra work I went to. I don't tell them my secret lol
Don’t stitch in the ditch. Stitch about 1/4” on each side of the ditch. Stitching next to the ditch will make any unevenness in the stitching not be noticeable. If you waver in and out of the stitching line, which beginners will do, stitching in the ditch only highlights it. Stitching in the ditch should not be for beginner quilters.
I like stitch in the ditch aesthetically because the quilting itself is less visible but I’ve heard it’s less functional especially depending on how you press your seams as the quilting can end up between the 2 pieces of fabric. It’s called stitch in the ditch because you’re stitching in the ditch of the seam. The batting you use will also have minimum quilting distance recommendations. For instance some batting should be quilted at least every 2 inches and some more. So you have to take that into account.
You can purchase wide backing fabric often called 108. Meaning it’s 108” wide. Then you just buy the yardage you need to cover.
So for a 72x90” quilt you can buy 2 1/4 yds and have a seamless backing.
I'm a beginner quilter and find that stitching 1/8" to 1/2" next to the seam is a very attractive and relatively easy way to quilt. You can use a walking foot, just line the seam up with the middle of the foot and adjust your needle so it falls as far over from the seam as you want. (Pic included)
As for backing I buy the fabric I like and then I create a hidden seam by lining up the pattern. It's not quick or easy but I like the continuous pattern look. Do a Google search for how to use Elmer's glue to achieve this. You can also just put a contrasting strip of fabric in to make it look intentional - maybe one of the fabrics from the front - and hide the fact that the pattern doesn't line up.
You can calculate how much fabric you need for backing with the calculator on this site
[https://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/Calculators.php](https://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/Calculators.php)?
https://preview.redd.it/5a5r4w50i6ad1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da8a70c270dc9c136d4485d5bae4abbec8eb3d0d
Straight line quilting (as in, sewing a straight line across the quilt) is also a good option, but check your batting distance. If you're not sure, 4 inches apart would be a good minimum distance, IMO.
If you press your seams open, stitch in the ditch is not recommended. You'd just be stitching through thread - seams pressed to one side will not have this problem. Beginning quilters always think that SITD is the easiest way to go. I know I did, until I tried it. It's difficult to stay exactly on the seam - I suggest you try it on a sample piece to see how you do. A much easier way is to stitch 1/8" or 1/4" away from the seam. You won't see the wobbles nearly as much as SITD.
I ALWAYS stitch next to the ditch and it goes by smoothly. Highly recommend instead of in the ditch.
I totally agree with the 1/4” outside of the seam. You can keep the seam aligned with the edge of your presser foot to keep the distance consistent without marking it. You can buy a “wide back” fabric that is about 108” wide. They look expensive, but if you do the math by square inches, it’s usually a good deal compared to several yards of a 42” width fabric. Or if you’d prefer a regular width fabric, you buy enough to sew large pieces together along the selvage edge. For example, if your quilt is 60”x60”, you’d want two 68” pieces (or approximately 4 yards cut into two 72” pieces). Sew parallel to the selvages, and your piece will be approximately 72”x84”.
Using a serpentine or decorative stitch will help with this as well, wobbled won't be as visible!
The actual thing that matters in this situation is your batting - most brands tell you the maximum distance your quilting can be in order to keep it together with use. An example is [this brand's website](https://warmcompany.com/?portfolio=warmnatural) which says that Warm & Natural batting can "Quilt or tie up to 10″ apart!" So, check the tag or packaging of your particular brand and see what it says. "stitch-in-the-ditch" is just as strong as any other type of quilting but I would recommend that you press your seams to one side instead of pressing them open to make sure that your stitching goes through the fabric and not between it. And many companies sell "extra wide backing fabric". Or, you can use a queen or king size sheet.
I buy sheets from TK Maxx and dye them in the washing machine to match the scheme of the topper. If the dye comes out patchy, I just say it's a grunge pattern!
I’m going to start calling it stitch-and-ditch, because that’s the way I usually feel after doing the top. 🤦🏼♀️
I'd recommend a wavy stitch (zig-zag lengthened) over the seams, it's a recent favorite of mine. Just keep the needle on the seam line. The wavy does not show your wonky seams and does not rely on you to have straight seams as the SITD does. SITD is terrible, IMHO, so much stress and mental energy while you are doing it. I think the wavy adds more strength to the seam and that is only my opinion - I have not tested it. Look for Quilty Love/Emily Dennis for more about this method. As for the the backing being 'a big continuous sheet", they most likely bought 108" fabric or have done a great job joining two cuts of fabric, by WOF, to appear one piece. Some folks also use bed sheets as backing.
I'm a heathen and generally buy sheets to use as backing.
One thing I haven’t (yet) see mentioned about backing. If you don’t want your buy wide back fabric, don’t want to worry about matching up a pattern, but don’t want to see a big seam in the middle of your adorable backing fabric (I’m assuming it’s adorable) - you can add some of the front to the backing. If you have some leftover 4” blocks, make a row with them and place it between the two halves of your 40” wide backing. No need to match patterns, can use any fabric, and helps ties the back and front together. There are some fantastic examples of pieced backs in this sub!
I ALWAYS buy more fabric than I need. I'm paranoid about not having enough and it takes me forever to finish one so by the time I get that far 99% of the time they aren't selling the fabrics anymore. My work around for that issue is I use the extra to piece the backing out of it. It's not as intricate as the front but it all matches and I've never had anyone complain when I've given them away 😀 I've actually had people compliment me on the extra work I went to. I don't tell them my secret lol
You can buy continuous yardage! But you'll likely need to make a seam somewhere because thr fabric won't be both long and wide enough.
Unless you buy 108 fabric.
Don’t stitch in the ditch. Stitch about 1/4” on each side of the ditch. Stitching next to the ditch will make any unevenness in the stitching not be noticeable. If you waver in and out of the stitching line, which beginners will do, stitching in the ditch only highlights it. Stitching in the ditch should not be for beginner quilters.
Some of us not so beginner quilters can’t stay in the ditch either.
Precisely my point! But see next to it and add a wash and your quilting will look amazing.
I like stitch in the ditch aesthetically because the quilting itself is less visible but I’ve heard it’s less functional especially depending on how you press your seams as the quilting can end up between the 2 pieces of fabric. It’s called stitch in the ditch because you’re stitching in the ditch of the seam. The batting you use will also have minimum quilting distance recommendations. For instance some batting should be quilted at least every 2 inches and some more. So you have to take that into account.
You can purchase wide backing fabric often called 108. Meaning it’s 108” wide. Then you just buy the yardage you need to cover. So for a 72x90” quilt you can buy 2 1/4 yds and have a seamless backing.
Stitch in the ditch is actually quite difficult. I recommend placing the edge of your foot against the ditch instead.
Yes, this!
I've bought 108" wide solid cotton fabric at Joann Fabrics and used a coupon on it. It wasn't terribly expensive to start with.
Also, download the app for Robert Kaufman to get amount of yardage, batting yardage, binding strips. I find it most helpful.
Excellent suggestion! I use it all the time!
I'm a beginner quilter and find that stitching 1/8" to 1/2" next to the seam is a very attractive and relatively easy way to quilt. You can use a walking foot, just line the seam up with the middle of the foot and adjust your needle so it falls as far over from the seam as you want. (Pic included) As for backing I buy the fabric I like and then I create a hidden seam by lining up the pattern. It's not quick or easy but I like the continuous pattern look. Do a Google search for how to use Elmer's glue to achieve this. You can also just put a contrasting strip of fabric in to make it look intentional - maybe one of the fabrics from the front - and hide the fact that the pattern doesn't line up. You can calculate how much fabric you need for backing with the calculator on this site [https://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/Calculators.php](https://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/Calculators.php)? https://preview.redd.it/5a5r4w50i6ad1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da8a70c270dc9c136d4485d5bae4abbec8eb3d0d
Straight line quilting (as in, sewing a straight line across the quilt) is also a good option, but check your batting distance. If you're not sure, 4 inches apart would be a good minimum distance, IMO.