Thank you everyone for your replies. I believe my friend was told to stitch in the ditch to stabalize the quilt first. I know that it wouldn't show on top, but it would show on the back, and like I said earlier, with some designs, it wouldn't look good. I just wonder, if you have the quilt basted well, why would it need more stabalizing? Have any of you had bad things happen when you don't stitch in the ditch?

I hardly SITD these days, as I said, unless the quilting design requires it and my quilts come out OK... even won a couple of awards. :-D

Actually the other way around... I've SID and had the top or bottom or both pucker where the SID came together. Only way non-SID would pucker is if you FMQ too close together without adequate stabilization.

I've spray basted, stitch basted, and pin basted and still had problems if the quilt top wasn't flat or the back was fed wrong when I FMQ. It all comes back to practice. I hate it but I still have to do it if I want to finish any of my backlog without doing it by hand (and Arthur Itis has a say about that!).

Personal choice. I am one who likes SID, especially when I particularly LOVE the fabrics and want to showcase those instead of my quilting. If I want the fabrics to "pop", I SID. Everyone has what they like and this is mine. :-)

I have never done SID. I want to do SID on the quilt I am working on now, but usually I just stipple or do a simple overall design with loops. My quilts are mainly for charity and I don't do anything fancy, but I enjoy the quilting process.

I have a quilt in the ditch machine foot for my sewing machine. I think all the domestic machines sell these as I have a Bernina and my friend a Janome and she also has stitch in the ditch foot.
It helps to anchor your quilt first as this stops the back from moving.
I also find stippling is an easy option.
Don't make your quilt too large to begin with as it makes it harder to handle.
Make sure you use the same type of thread on top as on your bobbin. Doesn't have to be the same colour, just the same sort.
Thinner batting is easier to quilt than thicker. I personally prefer bamboo or cotton.
Good luck, don't worry, do a little at a time and when you have finished you will feel a great sense of achievment.

The class I took the teacher told us to do this. It's to stablize the sandwich and you shouldn't be able to see it. I have done it on my quilts and no puckers, front or back.

I have never done this. Diane Guadynski says to do it with disolving thread if you don't want it to show but desire the stabilization. She does it so her horizontal and vertical lines stay straight for showing. Sometimes when you quilt over a border it pulls the fabric into a very slight curve. Points off in a show for that.

I have always had one too but it's not a walking foot. I would need a SID and walking foot combo. I could have that now (with my accufeed) but I still don't SID.

Ha ha! I bought a SID foot and I absolutely LOVE it! Keeps my stitching right where it is supposed to be!