how accurate is "accurate enough" ?
07-23-2013, 08:18 AM
#51
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 242
Sometimes my best intentions are to be accurate in my block sizes. But I allow myself some leeway. If it measures to within an 1/8" larger or smaller I am good with that.
I try and remember nothing is to be made perfect. To do so is comparing yourself to the creator.
I try and remember nothing is to be made perfect. To do so is comparing yourself to the creator.
07-23-2013, 09:24 AM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 470
I enjoy crazy quilting cause there is less worrying about accuracy. I have found using an old singer magnet found in the draw of my old 301 desk is very useful to guiding the fabric to line up to the 1/4 inch mark.
07-23-2013, 12:36 PM
#53
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Florida - formerly Montana
Posts: 3,504
It is #37 and I think it is called the Patchwork foot. That foot has a 1/8 inch seam allowance at the front edge as well as the notch lets you know when you are exactly 1/4 inch from the end of the seam. I find this very handy for stopping an exact 1/4 inch from the end when sewing my binding corners.
07-23-2013, 12:38 PM
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Birmingham, Sweet Home Alabama
Posts: 473
I have found thorough trial and error that thread size does affect the seam allowance. So I try to use the same thread throughout the piecing. With "So Fine" from Superior Threads, my seams are more true to 1/4" . With Connecting threads thread, I have to allow almost 1/16" to account for the width of the thread. Finished block size, I like to stay within 1/8" of what it's supposed to be, and I try ( notice I said TRY) to be extremely accurate when star points are right on the seam line. If they aren't quite to the seam line, I can live with it, but if they are chopped off, it really bothers me.
My Brother Dreamweaver allows me to change the needle positions in increments as small as 1/8 of a millimeter, but the seam will only be accurate if I follow the guide precisely. I have to have an additional guide besides just the edge of the foot or the edges of my patches will tend to wander under the foot and loose a nanometer or two in the stitching. I especially tend to wander off when sewing HSTs and other pointy-ended patches.
07-23-2013, 01:20 PM
#55
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,987
07-23-2013, 07:33 PM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 695
Great thread (topic, I mean
) I, too, have a Bernina and was using the #37 foot, as well as trying to follow the 1/4" line on the bed of the machine. I recently bought the #57 foot, which is like the #37 but has the edge guide on the right side. I love it so much more! The first time I used it was just before the 4th of July when I decided to make a small one-block quilt to hang on the front door instead of a patriotic wreath. I had three pieces of patriotic fabric, one with a white, one with red and one with blue background. I made a white Friendship Star with the red fabric and bordered it with the blue. The #57 foot really, really made it easy.
I've used the #37 foot for years but will probably not ever use it again. Well, maybe, but #57 is now my favorite foot! Today I finished the top of a baby quilt that has rows of 2.5" squares of alphabet fabric and coordinating brights. Again, the #57 foot really made it easier to be more accurate. I do know you can get the same type foot for other machine, too. It's not exclusive to Bernina.
) I, too, have a Bernina and was using the #37 foot, as well as trying to follow the 1/4" line on the bed of the machine. I recently bought the #57 foot, which is like the #37 but has the edge guide on the right side. I love it so much more! The first time I used it was just before the 4th of July when I decided to make a small one-block quilt to hang on the front door instead of a patriotic wreath. I had three pieces of patriotic fabric, one with a white, one with red and one with blue background. I made a white Friendship Star with the red fabric and bordered it with the blue. The #57 foot really, really made it easy. I've used the #37 foot for years but will probably not ever use it again. Well, maybe, but #57 is now my favorite foot! Today I finished the top of a baby quilt that has rows of 2.5" squares of alphabet fabric and coordinating brights. Again, the #57 foot really made it easier to be more accurate. I do know you can get the same type foot for other machine, too. It's not exclusive to Bernina.
07-23-2013, 08:26 PM
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New England
Posts: 865
When assisting the judges at a major quilt show, I learned that if a seam was one thread width off, they let it go but when it was two thread widths off, they marked down for it. They said that two thread widths could be corrected but one might not be able to be corrected.
Yes, judges DO measure. And the binding, BTW, is the first thing they check.
Yes, judges DO measure. And the binding, BTW, is the first thing they check.
07-24-2013, 08:50 AM
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Northern Minnesota
Posts: 488
Auriful thread helps too!
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