Learn How to Stitch in the Ditch with a Walking Foot 

Thanks for the video. I have a T Shirt with a favorite Bible verse, and the shirt has a stain that won't come out. I plan to use the verse as a pillow slip cover. Thanks for teaching me about stitch in the ditch as I have a baby quilt I'm working on, too.

Dang, this is great Rob! And just in the nick of time for this new quilter. I have one quilt sandwiched, pinned and ready to go, with another following close behind. Thanks so much!!!!

My dad taught me to sew. Love your channel.

I have a bunch of t-shirts never warn from concerts I’ve attended…Elton John, Billy Joel, Kenny G, Diana Ross, etc. Looking forward to watching your t-shirt to see how to quilt these and take them out of the storage box. I’m a very new quilter

I have a locker of keepsake t-shirts from concerts I’ve been to. I’m looking forward to watching you t-shirt quilt. I’m new to quilting, I have made a total of ☝️ one.🤪

Oh too funny. I JUST bought a walking foot for this machine I bought last year. My old machine came with one. Then I couldn’t remember how to attach it. Great video. My favorite quilt square are my Kentucky Derby Shirts I’ve collected for 40 years. I made 1 queen, 1 full and 3 lap quilts and need to get two more done for my family. Thanks for your great videos!!

I am a veteran, so I have my T-shirts from my units, deployments, & special travels. I have them in a cedar chest not wanting to throw them out, but not knowing what to do with them - until now!! I am so excited to learn how to make a t-shirt quilt. Especially with all the memories that will come with sewing the pieces together!

I love the Adirondack Mountains.I try and pick up different T shirts when I am there.Your video is great!. I am a self taught quilter and your videos are very helpful! Thanks!

I made a quilt for my husband and used one of his t-shirts as a center panel.

Rob u just saved my life. Thank u thank u thank u.

I was looking for this ...I am going to fmq but want to stitch in the ditch first...btw....making a Tshirt quilt for my husband. He's been saving his favorite tees for years.

I picked the T-shirt I husband picked out for me while he was on vacation. He usually doesn't buy me little gifts but being in his favorite place and thinking about me means a lot. Just wanted to say I liked the video

Hi, my favorite t-shirt is one I still wear today. It is a memory t-shirt with the saying "I survived hurricane Andrew." Along the same subject of t-shirt quilts, my grandson graduated from University of Alabama. ROLL TIDE. He had 20 t-shirts and asked me to make a memory quilt for him. I used all the t-shirts, as well as the pockets. After stabilizing the t-shirts and piecing it all together, I stitched in the ditch exactly like you did. It turned out very nice, but boy is that quilt big and heavy. I put a flannel backing with no batting. Love all your videos AND your energy.

Great video with lots of information. I always learn something from you. Thank you.

My one & only t-shirt quilt was for my daughters high school graduation. I took all her shirts from grade school through high school. That was a lot of shirts!! It was fun to work on & she loved it when presented at her party. The kids had fun remembering all the events associated with each shirt. Thanks Rob for all your help with these videos!!

Looking forward to your t-shirt quilt tutorial, Rob. My husband has a ton of old t-shirts he doesn't wear anymore but can't bear to part with. This sounds like a good way to get them out of the closet . . . and out of the bureau drawers . . . etc., etc., etc.! And my favorite t-shirt is the one I bought at a NASCAR race that says "In our sport if something goes out of bounds, it's probably not coming back". Thanks for all your tutorials. I enjoy them very much.

Rob you are a gem. I'm just finishing a t-shirt quilt with no clue on how I was going to quilt it. Now I know. This video is very helpful. By the way, the quilt is 85" x 85".

I'm about to buy a sewing machine--and it's people like you that are making me do it. I'm very happy you're quilting and not doing something bad. I like making things, I've got a wood shop, photography.... but for me sewing is completely uncharted territory. I know nothing. I want to make camping gear, boat covers, sew webbing, I need a leather notebook cover that the only way I'm ever going to get it is to make it.... However, for me to jump in feet first, buy a sewing machine, would be a disaster; however with RU-vid, Man Sewing, Ken in Muscle Shoals, and all the other RU-vid sewing stars, so willing to teach and share; I know I'm going to learn the skills I need, make all kinds of cool projects and have a lot of fun. The sewing machine companies, fabric mills, etc.... should send you guys fat checks. I also know I've got at least one quilt in me.... Thank you.

Watching again a year later. I haven't done any quilting in the past 12 months and I realised how much I've forgotten. Over the last couple of weeks, I've watched dozens of straight line/walking foot videos and this is the first one that shows a two or three reverse stitches to lock the quilting line. So much better than the pull up bobbin thread, tie. cut-off etc which is fine for FMQ.

thank you for this video. I try to learn Stitching in-the ditch..

Great lesson, I needed it. Quilting is very difficult for me because I'm retired, just began to do patchwork at 65 and have a very small and cheap machine. So a thousand thanks!!

I'm so glad you're going to do a t-shirt quilt. I started my daughter's three years ago using all her marching band t-shirts. It was supposed to be a high school graduation gift. She will be a junior in college in the fall. This is the summer I will finish it. So perfect timing Man Sewing.

Thank you SO MUCH for this!!!! For the life of me I could not get it until I saw your video. You pull the seam and stitch in the ditch between the fabric. Your videos are great and inspiring!!!!!

I wish you'd revive this channel, Rob.

Thank you ‘sew’ much , the angles of the camera helped me see what you were doing. ‘Sew’ much for clarity.

My favourite tee shirt is a map of Canada, with the 100th Meridian! I used to wear it to all the Tragically Hip concerts I went to in my younger days.

That's easy my "You know your are a quilter if..." t-shirt! It has a lot of quilting sayings on it my favorite is "You have a "stash" and it isn't illegal". It was also a gift from my hubby, makes it awesome!

Thanks for the demo. I wasn't pulling the seam a little to open it. Never thought of that. Awesome!

I just started quilting and love love love your tutorials. Learning a lot

I literally just found out about the walking foot. I have been having trouble with my fabric sliding and it is driving me NUTS! This is the first video I looked at for it. Very cool.

Thank you! I am just about to stitch in the ditch on a queen sized quilt with a walking foot. This is my second quilt that I will be making.

Thank you for showing me how to "stitch in the ditch" I've done it before, but you answered some questions that I had and corrected some of my mistakes.

I really enjoy your tutorials. You add little details which mean a lot to me. Doing my first real "stitch in the ditch with walking foot " quilt today! Thank you!

Thank you for this a tutorial I love the way you teach quilting getting ready to quilt my 1st quilt with my walking foot

You are an AMAZING teacher. Thank you so much for DEMONSTRATING and explaining things so clearly. Wow. I can't wait to start a quilt.

Thanks for your videos Rob. I've watched you at MSQC and am only now discovering your amazing videos. I really like watching things I think I already know how to do, only to find out you have a tip or three that are helpful. I'm mostly self-taught, so your videos are a real asset. BTW, my favorite t-shirts are brightly covered so motorists can see me while I'm on my bicycle.

Thank you for talking about a walking foot. This is something I should have used on the quilt I just finished. Now that I know about it though it should help on my next quilt.

So excited. I've been putting old t shirts aside to make a quilt. Thanks for all your tutorials. I think you are the best

I collect T Shirts when we travel to foreign countries. I find they are really a better keepsake than something that collects dust and I can see & love them. Thanks for all the tips on quilting in the ditch as it may sound easy, but it isn't. Great video.😄

T-shirt quilts are so awesome. Favorite t-shirt here right now is the second one my husband surprised me with while he was working. He's a truck driver and it says "you dont have to be CRAZY to be truckes WIFE, but sure helps ". Lol #2(which was the first one) is from him also, it says, "The only thing tougher then a trucker, is a truckers wife. 😉 Happy Sewing!

Wow! This just made my world a lot bigger. Thank you for this!

I have lots of favorite t-shirts, and some went into my t-shirt quilt. I did free-motion around the images in the shirts, used different colored thread to match the t-shirt color. And used clear thread in the some of the printed parts, to hide the stitching. I also used metallic thread. And adjusted my thread tension a-lot. The quilt is nice, worth all that work.

You make it look so easy! Even with a stitch in the ditch foot I still slip off the ditch!

I have a t-shirt quilt on my "to do" quilting list. My favorite t-shirts are my NaNoWriMo Winner T-shirts, and the 5K shirts that I've run to raise money for the local library. Within the next few years I should have enough to attempt a t-shirt quilt. Great tutorial, thank you!

Riveting, as always, Rob, thanks! Favorite t-shirt is a soft-cotton micro-be-dazzled-over-the-edge fleur-de-lis. It should come with a warning: do not drive on a sunny day while wearing : )

Love. Your machine quilting designs and tips. I am a self taught quilter and found many ideas from you.Please keep them coming

You are a great teacher! Love your Babylock Jane also!

Excellent tutorial and some very useful tips. Thank you

Loved this video I'm new to stitching in the ditch. This will help me a lot. Thank you!

Right now my favorite t shirt is Man Sewing. Thanks Rob.

My favorite T shirt was my older brother’s. It was red with black writing. Picture was a bottle of alcohol & it said “ I would rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy. 😂

Thank you so much for this video!

Thank you for the tutorial, it has explained the technique so well, am just about to quilt my first quilt!

Awesome video Rob, thanks so much! I Love Love your videos and your happy spirit! Happy New York!

Thanks Rob for covering the walking foot, the Bernina QE that I have now, has the walking foot, previously I did stitch in the ditch on my Pfaff with a regular foot, for it didn't have a walking foot for it.

My husband loves funny saying t-shirts but some are not street worthy any longer. He couldn't deal with the thought of them becoming rags. I've seen 1 video on T-shirt quilting so promised him I would make him his own personal quilt, so now I am anxious to see your method. I have a shopping bag stuffed with t-shirts that have a promise attached to them. Sorry no questions for you until you get to the t-shirt quilt and then I'll want to know how do you work with odd shapes and sizes. Some writing on the t's are one liners and others accompany a design or character. Indeed I'll be watching for my subscription bell to ring that you’re ready to work some fun into something unique. Thanks Rob. Love watching you and love your testimony. God bless.

I'm excited to see a t-shirt quilt tutorial, I've got a stack of shirts waiting to be a quilt, I had to compromise with my husband because they either don't fit (we're coming up on 2 years and I feed him well) or have holes but he wouldn't throw them out.

My Daughter made a Tee Shirt quilt top as a senior in high school, it turned out to be 8 feet square, quite a project

I love the tutorial. I can't wait ti see the next one.

This is wonderful. So glad I watched. Thanks.

Amazing tutorial, thank you Rob! I like the 4x4 explanation! 🏆🏆🏆

Rob, thank you for teaching us to sew and use our machines. I have learned so much from you. I would love to know how you became interested in sewing and crafts. Tell us a little about yourself. I have been watching for quite awhile now.

I have that t-shirt quilt book and I love it!

Thank you, you are a great teacher!!!

Because of you I machine quilt my quilts now, unless design requires other wise. When I bought my quilting sewing machine, I bought it mostly because it came with a whole set of quilting feet. Even though I have made several quilts since the purchase, all baby to throw size, I only just machine quilted using the aforementioned feet. Most I finished with yarn, hand or even taking with a regular foot less than a inch line. But this past winter I made a queen size quilt and I tried the machine with the proper feet. I really thought I would be good at the walking foot but no since the quilt had large blocks I was crooked. And yes I was bad and didn't create lines because none of my markings tools worked. So I thought since I messed up so bad I'd try free motion on scraps and I actually did well. Although my sewing style is very free from since I only pin when necessary like putting in a sleeve or binding witch I use clips for that. I still prefer loose fabric when I sew. I should have started with free motion. I did so well I was even able to put stars and the recipients name in cursive. With only minor miss stakes, mostly tension cuz I'm a speed sewer too, I was quite proud even if it was black thread on black and galaxy fabric. With your tips in this video I will try again. Sorry such a long comment, but you have helped my finishing skills of machine quilting. Where as Jenny at Missouri Star helped my piercing from basic squares to different sizes and shapes. I actually can make a quilt 100% with no outsourcing or the long process of hand finishing.

Even though I just can't get my stitches in the ditch with a walking foot or a stitch in the ditch foot, I love watching your videos. I love that you acknowledge your mistakes instead of trying to hide them.

Thanks for the video! My favorite t shirt: I have two. Both gifts from my son and his best friend. The boys go to a lot of Cons here in Atlanta, and always find the Doctor Who memorabilia for me. Since I am a geek and Dr Who is my favorite. Anyhow... T shirt one is The 12 Doctors and the T.A.R.D.I.S. the second is the Exploding T.A.R.D.I.S. (Painted by Vincent Van Gogh in the 11th Doctor's episode Vincent and The Doctor. One of the best episodes and a real tear jerker!)

I not a big graphic/word/image tee gal, but I do appreciate memory tee's from events or milestones. So far the only one I have I bought it really big to make a bag since I didn't plan on wearing it. Although I may have had a few picture character tee's as a teen but most to all I cut into so if I still have them they might not work for a Tshirt quilt. So far I've never made a Tshirt quilt although I have offered to family members if they ever want one I'm free.

I love my MTV tees!

My favorite T-shirt has a line like a heartbeat (the up down zig zag) and in the middle it makes a sewing machine

Best T - black with scraggly neon-green lettering that says “Don’t make me get my flying monkeys!”

Thanks for the tip about the needle getting loose. A needle falling out when I'm sewing sounds pretty scary. I haven't seen this tip in other videos about the walking foot.

Thanks for this tutorial! I have a walking foot because a friend loaned me hers at a retreat but I've been too intimidated to try it on my own. I also like the red thread because I have a tendency to us whatever I grab to sew unseen seams. ;)

I made a king sized t-shirt quilt. It's double sided and contain 50 shirts. I used the quilt as you go method and that worked great. And my favorite t-shirt in the quilt was one that had a rat and a donkey on it and said at the top I don't give a (insert rat and donkey)

Of course my favorite t-shirt(s) are Star Wars shirts. ;-)

Awesome !!! Love this.

I like your videos = = they are totally encouraging !!

I know HOW to do this, but I fall out of the ditch, like a drunkard. Thanks for the tip on the directions to sew.

Thank you!

My fave T-shirt is a navy blue one that has these giant gold letters on it: CSI. I had to stop wearing it except at home because people were always asking me where the Crime Scene was that I was Investigating! And I kept telling them all that I bought this shirt in Las Vegas! So now I only wear it if I don't plan to go anywhere.

thank you for the tutorials. I would like to see a fishing vest tutorial or a bag for my little plano tackle boxes that I can take on the river.

all is great!

Question : can I zigzag after stitch in a ditch to make a decorated stitch on my strips fabric making a pillow

Amazing...

Great information. I have sashing between my t-shirts and have S in the D. My blocks are 16". I need to FMQ in the blocks. What can I do so as not to stitch over the motifs but still anchor the t-shirt to the polar fleece backing?

Not a T-shirt, it I have a Norte Dame sweatshirt that I’ve had since high school. I just cannot part with it. It’s oversized and so cuddly. I still wear it around the house. I am almost 41 now so that tells you how old it is lol. I think it’s so special to me because it was the first article of clothing I bought with my own money from my first job. I bought it from a local department store that had good quality clothing. Oh the memories...

My glowing Marvin the Martian shirt it's about 20 years old now! still looks new (ish) lol

My favorite t-shirt has a kentucky Wildcat on it!

Hi Rob...love your tuts. I see you are using "Jane" as your machine of choice, as I am quilting on one also. Here's my problem; my quilt is a throw with a fleecy blanket backing, no batting. I find it very difficult to handle and I get little stitches, then regular stitches. I find it drags and affects the stitching. I find no fun in machine quilting a sizable quilt. Any tips to make this more successful would be greatly appreciated.

I love my walking foot and use it all the time - yet I didn't even think about the order in which you do the stitching. This last time my walking foot started to squeak :) with every stitch (I have a Bernina 530) Is there any oiling or anything that we need to do to the walking foot? Great idea with the T-shirt quilt. Can't wait for your project!

Rob -- I've had 2 friends with misconceptions about stitch in the ditch. It would be nice if you addressed them for the very beginners in your audience. First -- seams are pressed to the side, not open. One friend thought the ditch was formed by pressing the seams open. Secondly, the other friend did not realize that you aimed the stitch on the lower side of the "hill" formed by pressing the seam to the side. And that the reason you "pull" a little bit to open the seam is so that when it relaxed, the "top" side of the seam sort of covers the stitching. I told my friends not to feel bad -- no one is born knowing this stuff.

yes would love to see a tutorial for tshirt quilt.

This has been so helpful. Your walking foot looks almost like the one I just bought. I do have one question though. I was under the impression that I shouldn't sew backwards with a walking foot to anchor my thread at the end. It looks like you did that. Any problems?

When sewing knits and to achieve the pretty look underneath. Should I use a twin needle?

I'm glad I found your videos. I'm a veteran, too with tons of unit and travel t-shirts. What type of interfacing did you use on the t-shirts? I can't wait to get started :-)

Could you tell me how to finish sewing when FMQ. Starting is shown by pulling up the back thread, do you do this at the end? I thought you shouldn't reverse stitch with a walking foot?

My fave t-shirt is My "I need my space" shirt from Kennedy space center. Often my space involves time in my sewing room.

When you use the walking foot can you backstich? Can you use the 3 stitches in same spot. I call it the tire off button.

Hi there, when using the walking foot, do I have to drop the feed dog on my machine? I really appreciate any response. Thank you so much

and I second the tool caddy tutorial