Valerie Ann

I just purchased a stitch in the ditch ruler--half price plus 25% off. So, the price was right, but does it help when you quilt on a regular machine? Thoughts? Opinions?

Candace

A stitch in the ditch foot on my machine is much more helpful than any ruler, IMO. I've never needed a ruler for SITD.

auntpiggylpn

I've never heard of a SITD ruler so I googled it. Looks like it is used mainly with longarms. I don't have a long arm but when I SITD on my machine, I use my SITD foot or if I'm too lazy to change feet, I just slow down my machine when stitching.

nativetexan

I've never seen that ruler. Can't think how it would be used. Long Arm machine?

gale

I've never heard of a ruler either, but I don't own a SITD foot either. If I have to SITD, which I only do if I absolutely must, I sew verrrry slowly.

eta: I looked at it on google. I think that it might be helpful when free motion quilting. I never do that though.

QKO

Yup, SITD rulers are a longarmers tool. If you're FMQ, just go slow and look ahead of where you're stiching, not at the needle.

(Don - who just spent a good part of the day doing SITD)

Tartan

I had an extra thick ruler made for FMQ with my Bernina. I was working on a star quilt that I wanted to outline the stars and stipple in the background. I just can't FMQ a straight line but I can use my ruler to do so. It is a little tricky but I hold my ruler down on my quilt surface with half of my hand on the ruler and half on the quilt. My Machingers gloves keep everything from slipping. I managed to get my whole quilt done and it worked better than trying to FMQ straight lines without it.
I use my walking foot for sewing straight lines if possible but it is easier to FMQ straight lines than constantly turn the quilt to maneuver around a star.

mighty

I have a stitch in the ditch ruler for my longarm have never used it on my DSM.

GrannieAnnie

What does this ruler do for you that you can't do for yourself?

petthefabric

When SITD is what the quilt really needs and I can't think of a way to avoid it, the ruler helps. With the stitch regulator on I can sew a few stitches, guiding the machine with one hand and the ruler wth the other. Move the ruler forward and do a few more stitches. Laborious. The ruler holds the seam open and the foot of the machine from wandering off the ditch. LONGARM ONLY. There's much easier ways to do SITD on a domestic machine.