quiltingbee12

It really depends on what it is. Without a seam guide, no way could I sew a straight line. But, if I have my seam guide it is fairly straight. I get the job done, and that's what counts in my book. If I really was obsessive about having a straight seam and perfect points, I would have gone crazy!

SunlitenSmiles

GailG

When I was much younger I did sew straight. I sewed garments and an occasional home dec project. As I aged I noticed my stitching was not as straight -- in fact that is one of the reasons I stopped making my own clothes. I wasn't satisfied with my workmanship. There are a few attachments that do help with the staight stitching, but all in all I don't sew as straight as I used to. And it's the same with quilting. Of course, I'm not as particular about the whole things as I used to be -- my priorities have definitely changed. Right now I am topstitching (cross-hatching) a lap quilt. The lines should go across and going from block corner to corner, 4 3/4" apart. Well, sometimes, at that measurement I've been going into the corner of that block. I had to decide -- do I want to make a crooked line and go from corner to corner; OR do I want to make the line straight and do the 4 3/4" space all the way across. I think the latter would be best. Yes, lots of things can get you off track. Just do your best and keep on keeping on.

Cacklinghen

I get better results with a medium speed

Charleen DiSante

Hmm, so many have the same problem I do with crooked rulers. LOL Glad to hear we're not along in our veering off at the end of a piece. I do find slowing down helps and using my awl keeps the end a little more under control.

Sunnye

Are you kidding?! I never can sew straight even with all the gadgets that are supposed to help with that! And if I do sew straight (ha), it's at an angle. My quilts always come out at an angle due to my lack of depth perception.
P.S. I can't pull my car into the garage straight either!

Rose Marie

I use a 1/2 in ruler to draw lines to sew on. Guiss what even if the sewing is perfectly on the lines they still come out crooked in the end. This is one of those great mysteries.

Quilting Angel

I also find that if I speed my sewing machine up a bit, it is much easier to sew straight...not real fast though.

nhweaver

My seams do sometimes do a wiggles waggal, but just recently I discovered that my Janome 10000 has a cloth guide attachment, took me 10 years to read the manual (haha). It is adjustable, and now my wiggles are less. Slower speeds do help. I learned to quilt the strip quipting method years ago, and it is hard to be slow and steady. But slow is much better at straighter seams.

AprilG

I get so frustrated with the 1/4" thing. I am used to the 5/8" thing as I make dolls and doll clothes too. However, after really screwing up a rail fence quilt, I bought a 1/4" presser foot. I don't think that the seller sent me the right one because it doesn't lay flat on my sewing machine but, it does work well enough. I get the 1/4" seam if I don't sew too fast. (My biggest fault! LOL) Well, now that I have the 1/4" presser foot I have taught myself to slow down. My BROTHER machine has a really slow speed. I use it for the smaller pieces and, while I am impatient with the speed, I do get better seams. As a novice, I am constantly learning. Thanks mostly to the ladies and gentlemen of this board.