Everything you need to know about the Madam Sew Edge Joining Foot (a.k.a. Stitch In The Ditch)

The Stitch in the Ditch foot is one of the most popular and widely-used feet available for your sewing machine. This foot makes everything from edge stitching, to stitch in the ditch, to heirloom sewing easier.

This foot has a blade in the center that aligns perfectly with the needle in the center position By moving your needle to the left, you can edgestitch at ⅛” from the edge. The markings on the side help you to turn perfect corners.

Straight stitching guaranteed!

DIFFERENT USES

EDGE STITCHING

Move your needle to the left and top stitch at 1/8”. The guide will make sure your stitches will stay very accurate.

STITCH IN THE DITCH

Run the blade along the stitching line with your needle in the center position and you automatically get perfect 'stitch in the ditch' centered stitching. Perfect for quilting or adding a separate waistband to a skirt.

PATCHWORK

It’s a patchwork necessary foot: used to accurately stitch together two pieces of fabric or lace.

COMPATIBLE SEWING MACHINES

All snap-on sewing machines except Bernina and PFAFF machines and some Husqvarna Viking models.

You can use this foot on:

• a Bernina if you have the Bernina adapter + a low shank snap on adapter
• a Pfaff or a Husqvarna Viking or on all screw-on machines if you have the low shank adapter
• a high shank machine if you have the high shank adapter

HOW TO INSTALL THE EDGE JOINING FOOT ONTO YOUR MACHINE

The Edge Joining Foot is a universal snap-on presser foot for low shank sewing machines. You just snap it on and off your presser foot holder.

With the right adapter, you can use the Edge Joining Foot on almost any sewing machine:

The Low-Shank Snap On Adapter for a Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking (certain models) or any low-shank screw-on machine.

The Bernina Adapter + the Low Shank Snap On Adapter for a Bernina Machine

The High-Shank Adapter for a high shank machine.

For more information, visit our detailed blog post about shanks and universal presser feet.

INSTRUCTIONS

JOINING TWO PIECES OF FABRIC

Creating a decorative seam for patchwork can be very satisfying. With a few simple preparations the joining of patchwork can fly by when using the Edge Joining foot.

STEP 1: Overcast or zig zag the raw edges of the panels you are going to join. For any work other than a quilt, these raw edges will most likely be on display. If quilting, you can skip this step.

STEP 2: Press your seam allowances. To do that, place the folded edges together as you join the fabric panels

STEP 3: Choose a zigzag stitch and set it to your desired size. Make sure you check the size of your desired stitch, along with your placement, using the manual crank before you begin to sew.

When you start to sew, you will soon realize that the foot draws the panels together, and you only need to adjust occasionally.

Once you have completed your row of stitching, when you turn the work over you will see that you have automatically created an open seam, without the need to return to your iron!

ADD LACE TO YOUR HEMS

You can just as easily attach lace to your hems with this foot. The bonus is that there is no preparatory work needed for the lace. Simply lay it alongside the edge joining foot and begin to sew.

Note: If you want to make a show of the zig zag stitches, choose a bold thread with larger stitch length and zig zag width. If you want a more discreet join, then select thread which blends with your fabrics, and a shorter stitch length and zig zag width.

STITCH-IN-THE-DITCH QUILTING

For anyone who wants to quilt but doesn't feel their skills are quite where they should be for intricate quilting patterns, the Stitch in the Ditch Foot is for you!

The quilting technique of Stitch in the Ditch refers to sewing back over the ditch between panels created in the seams of patchwork. When attempted free hand this can lead the novice, and quite often the experienced quilter, to jagged lines.

By using the Stitch in the Ditch foot, the center blade guides us to near perfection with hardly any effort on our part.

Set up the wadding sandwich and baste together with either pins or long stitches.

Align the center blade of the foot with the stitches of the seam. It should drop into the ditch and nestle there quite happily.

You are now ready to sew.

Keeping an eye on the blade to ensure it doesn't get caught when crossing another row of patchwork at right angles, the foot does almost all the work for you.