How to Stitch in the Ditch with a Quilting Ruler

Stitching in the ditch is one of those quilting techniques that might not look particularly exciting at first glance, but it can make such a difference in your finished quilt!

It’s a wonderful way to stabilize your quilt, define different areas of your patchwork, and prepare for more decorative free motion quilting.

Today, I’m sharing a tutorial on how I stitch in the ditch using a quilting ruler. I’m working on my Lulu Louise quilt, and I’ll show you how I guide my ruler along the seams to create straight, controlled quilting lines.

And the best part? This technique can be used on just about any quilt!

Watch the Tutorial: Stitch in the Ditch Quilting

In this video, I’m walking you through my process for stitching in the ditch with a quilting ruler.

You’ll see how I position my ruler, guide my quilting stitches along the seams, and work through the foreground of my Lulu Louise quilt.

This tutorial is taken from my Lulu Louise Quilty Class, where we’re exploring two completely different quilting designs on the same quilt pattern.

But you don’t need to be making Lulu Louise to use this technique. You can apply it to all kinds of patchwork quilts!

What Is Stitch in the Ditch Quilting?

Stitching in the ditch means quilting directly along the seam where two pieces of fabric meet.

The goal is to place your quilting stitches right in that little valley created by the seam, allowing the quilting to blend into the patchwork rather than stand out as a decorative design.

It’s a simple technique, but it can serve several purposes in your quilting.

Why Would You Want to Stitch in the Ditch?

There are a few reasons I like using this technique, especially when I’m planning more detailed quilting designs.

• It helps stabilize the quilt.
• Stitching along the seams can help secure the quilt layers and keep everything in place as you continue quilting.
• It defines different areas of the quilt.
• If you’re planning to quilt different designs in different sections, stitching in the ditch can create a nice separation between those areas.
• It prepares the quilt for decorative quilting.
• Sometimes I like to get those structural quilting lines in place before moving on to feathers, scallops, or other free motion designs.
• And sometimes, stitching in the ditch is all the quilting a particular area needs!

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Using a Quilting Ruler to Stitch in the Ditch

One of my favorite ways to stitch in the ditch is with a straight quilting ruler.

Instead of trying to follow the seam entirely by eye, I can use the ruler as a guide to help keep my quilting lines straight and controlled.

For this technique, you’ll need a ruler foot and a quilting ruler designed for use with your machine.

As you quilt, position the ruler so the needle follows the seam line, remembering that the ruler foot creates a small offset between the ruler’s edge and the needle.

The ruler helps guide your movement while you focus on keeping your stitches right along the seam.

It takes a little practice, but once you get comfortable with the process, it can be a really useful technique to have in your quilting toolbox.

A little tip: Take your time around seam intersections and bulky areas. You don’t have to rush through them!

How I’m Using This Technique on My Lulu Louise Quilt

For this particular Lulu Louise quilt, I’m working with the Happy Home fabric collection in the foreground and Bella Solids Bettys Brown for the background.

I’m stitching in the ditch through portions of the foreground before moving on to the more decorative quilting.

My plan for this quilt includes downward-facing scallops in the foreground and free motion flowers and leaves in the background.

I love the contrast between the structured straight lines, the repeating scallops, and the loose, playful floral quilting.

And that’s one of my favorite things about quilting. You can take the same quilt pattern and give it a completely different personality just by changing the quilting design!

Fabrics I’m Using

• Foreground: Happy Home Fabric Collection
• Background: Bella Solids Bettys Brown
• Backing: Patched Up Plaid Happy Home Wide Back

My Machine Quilting Supplies

Here are the supplies I’m using while quilting Lulu Louise:

• Top Thread: Superior Threads Kimono Silk
• Bobbin Thread: Superior Threads MicroQuilter
• Quilting Gloves: Shop Here
• Snips: Snip-Eze Embroidery Snips
• Quilting Ruler: Creative Grids Slim Machine Quilting Tool

You can also browse all of my favorite tools and supplies here:

Shop My Free Motion Quilting Supplies

Want to Quilt Lulu Louise with Me?

This stitching-in-the-ditch tutorial is just one lesson from my complete Lulu Louise Quilty Class!

In the class, we’re making the Lulu Louise quilt top together and then exploring two different approaches to quilting it.

Our first quilting design features flowing feathers in the foreground and S-curves in the background.

Our second quilting design combines straight line quilting, scallops, and free motion flowers and leaves.

You’ll get to see how different quilting designs can completely change the look and feel of the same quilt pattern.

The Lulu Louise quilt pattern is included with the class, and you can work through the lessons at your own pace.

You can purchase the class individually or join Quilty Club, which gives you access to Lulu Louise and my entire library of quilting classes.

JOIN THE LULU LOUISE QUILTY CLASS

Give Stitching in the Ditch a Try!

Whether you’re using this technique to stabilize your quilt, separate different quilting designs, or simply add some clean, straight quilting lines, stitching in the ditch is a wonderful skill to practice.

And if you’ve never tried using a quilting ruler before, this is a great place to start!

I hope this tutorial gives you a little more confidence to experiment with ruler quilting on your own projects.

Here’s to making beautiful things, enjoying the process, and finding a little joy in every stitch. 💕