Quilting the Layers Together

by Shawna
(Rockwall, TX)

This is my first quilting project, so please forgive my lack of knowledge. :) In your directions on quilting the layers together, you show which direction to sew in and which seams to do last. It only shows quilting down the seams of the sashing and the border.

I always thought you quilted next to each seam, including the seams inside the blocks. Is this a personal preference or should it be done in a particular way? Thanks in advance.

P.S. I love your website. Your directions and diagrams are so easy to follow!

ANSWER

Thanks for the compliments about my site. I work hard to make it easy for my beginner students. That's why I chose the "stitch-in-the-ditch" quilting method for my lessons. It's simple to do and doesn't overwhelm a beginner.

You can quilt in any style you want. It's like having a blank page in front of you. If you can draw it, you can quilt it. So, yes, you can quilt according to your own preferences.

If you stitch in the ditch, you don't need to sew on both sides of the seam line (outline stitching). But you can do both if you desire. It all depends on what effect you're trying to achieve.

Of course, you could use either technique by itself. Or, you could quilt pictures and shapes in each block or through the entire quilt. The choices are limitless.

Use your creativity and don't be afraid to experiment. This will help you to find your own unique quilting style. Have fun!