SCANT 1/4 INCH IS MAKING ME CRAZY
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
one way is to put your needle down, put a small ruler against the needle and find the 1/4" mark...put a little dot...mark a couple dots in line...just inside of the 1/4" mark so you have a scant 1/4"...then run a piece of masking tape along your dots...so you have a guide that is straight and a scant 1/4". sometimes when a pattern calls for scant seams people will cut larger...stitch then trim to size instead of having to deal with it...but i have found a guide on the machine works pretty good.
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Glenmoore, PA
Posts: 7,941
Originally Posted by happy_lady
I've been quilting for almost ten years and continue to find sewing a scant 1/4 inch very frustrating. Is there such a thing as a quilting foot that measures this elusive 1/4 inch? If there is, I would love to own one. or is this just another one of my pipedreams.
#24
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Central Iowa
Posts: 69
I picked up a 1/4" foot at a quilt show. You can purchase one from The quilter's Portable, 208 South Street, Mallard, Iowa 50562. 712-425-3478. I wouldn't be without mine. In fact, I have two. One that I keep on my sewing machine when I am going away to quilt with a group.
#25
When teaching new students about setting up their sewing machines, I use this technique:
Cut 3 pieces of fabric each 1 1/2" wide by 6" long with 1 piece from a different fabric. Sew the 3 pieces together with the contrasting fabric in the middle. Press seams and measure the width of the center piece. If it is 1", you have your perfect 1/4" seam. If not, you need to adjust your needle position. I have them use a longer stitch than usual so it is easier to rip out and sew again. Keep trying until you get it, then write all your settings down for the next time.
I have (and love) the 1/4" foot with the little black "wall" against which you run the fabric to sew. HOWEVER, the needle position still needs to be set. For my machine, I need to move the needle from the default setting of 3.5 over to 4.2. On my older Janome, I don't need to move anything - go figure!
A scant 1/4" is only the difference of about a single thread's width. This is done because when we press seam allowances, the fabric goes up and over a teeny, tiny bit before lying flat, so we need to allow for it's detour by taking a teeny, tiny bit smaller seam width.
Cut 3 pieces of fabric each 1 1/2" wide by 6" long with 1 piece from a different fabric. Sew the 3 pieces together with the contrasting fabric in the middle. Press seams and measure the width of the center piece. If it is 1", you have your perfect 1/4" seam. If not, you need to adjust your needle position. I have them use a longer stitch than usual so it is easier to rip out and sew again. Keep trying until you get it, then write all your settings down for the next time.
I have (and love) the 1/4" foot with the little black "wall" against which you run the fabric to sew. HOWEVER, the needle position still needs to be set. For my machine, I need to move the needle from the default setting of 3.5 over to 4.2. On my older Janome, I don't need to move anything - go figure!
A scant 1/4" is only the difference of about a single thread's width. This is done because when we press seam allowances, the fabric goes up and over a teeny, tiny bit before lying flat, so we need to allow for it's detour by taking a teeny, tiny bit smaller seam width.
#26
Oh my another problem I have, but then there are so many. I have been trying for at least 8+ yrs to get that scant 1/4" but so far haven't figured it out. I have marked and moved and even cut bigger. Nothing works for me. One of my problems to and I don't know if it is yours also but I can't sew a straight line for anything. I am sure that would help with the accuracy. That I have worked harder on than the seam allowance lol.. Oh well.
Rita
Rita
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 1,040
Originally Posted by amma
I wish they would make a scant 1/4" foot!
I use my 1/4" foot and move the needle one click to the right :D:D:D
I use my 1/4" foot and move the needle one click to the right :D:D:D
#28
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 27
Originally Posted by BellaBoo
I would not piece without my 1/4 foot with attached guide. Without the guide it's useless to me. I have one for all my machines from Featherweight to Janome. they are easy to find on Ebay and most machine shops online.
The directions would say cut strips to 1/32" if the scant 1/4" was factored in. Most would freak at that measurement. LOL
The directions would say cut strips to 1/32" if the scant 1/4" was factored in. Most would freak at that measurement. LOL
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Glenmoore, PA
Posts: 7,941
Originally Posted by foxxigrani
Oh my another problem I have, but then there are so many. I have been trying for at least 8+ yrs to get that scant 1/4" but so far haven't figured it out. I have marked and moved and even cut bigger. Nothing works for me. One of my problems to and I don't know if it is yours also but I can't sew a straight line for anything. I am sure that would help with the accuracy. That I have worked harder on than the seam allowance lol.. Oh well.
Rita
Rita
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