Mike32

Stitch in the Ditch is commonly used in quilting~ I use it when doing waist bands and similar seams--I hate hand work!

Some sewing machine makers have special feet for SID that are a great help. In the case of waist bands, to the prep before you take one stitch. I inter face the side to the outside of the garment, leaving the inside without. 1. When you iron on the interfacing, iron the top crease along the middle. Then press the seam allowance up on the non-interfaced side. Make the seam allowance slightly less than the pattern calls for. 2. Sew the waistband right sides together (the interfaced half) to the garment. Trim the seam to about 1/4". Press the band up, with the seam towards the band. 3. Place right sides of the band together and stitch the ends, with the lengthwise fold at the top--it will be to the outside. Invert to the inside. Make sure the back of the belt comes slightly below the first stitching line. 4. Work on the face of the garment, using pins directly in the ditch to carefully catch the back into the seam. Use lots of pins. 5. Slowly lower your needle into the ditch and make sure it is exactly where you want it. Then slowly stitch your seam. 6. One clever suggestion used by quilters is to use Elmer's white glue (washable) to hold the WB in place from the back. You won't have to worry about slipping and it is washable.