What is Stitch in the Ditch Quilting
Stitch in the ditch is a method of quilting that minimizes how much thread shows on the top of the quilt. It is usually achieved by machine (or hand) quilting in the seamlines of a quilt, a teeny hair's width toward the side of the seam with less seam allowance underneath.Some quilters prefer to stitch 1/8" or 1/4" away from the seamlines, and may refer to that look as either stitch in the ditch or outline quilting.
Even though stitching in the ditch is somewhat invisible on the top of the quilt, it does secure all three layers of the quilt sandwich. Quilters often use either a matching thread or monofilament, a very fine invisible thread, when stitching in the ditch.