scant 1/4 inch seam
#22
Originally Posted by Ninnie
I've never understood why they say scant 1/4 seam. It should either be 1/4 or another size! I just try to take a little off and that has always worked for me.
#23
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Clay Springs AZ
Posts: 3,229
Everyone is different. My scant 1/4 will be different from someone elses.
Technically it is a stitch line less than 1/4 inch but that is not enough for me and I move mine over about 3 stitch lines.
Technically it is a stitch line less than 1/4 inch but that is not enough for me and I move mine over about 3 stitch lines.
#24
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
Back to the old test -
Cut three strips "your" two inches wide by five inches long
Sew them together, using "your" 1/4 inch seam
Press the piece the way you usually press it -
Measure it -
It "should" be exactly five inches by five inches
If different, some people compensate by changing the seam width, some compensate by moving the ruler one way or another - my strips are probably actually about 2 1/16" wide after they are cut
Cut three strips "your" two inches wide by five inches long
Sew them together, using "your" 1/4 inch seam
Press the piece the way you usually press it -
Measure it -
It "should" be exactly five inches by five inches
If different, some people compensate by changing the seam width, some compensate by moving the ruler one way or another - my strips are probably actually about 2 1/16" wide after they are cut
#25
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: California
Posts: 3,502
I have a 1/4" foot but I prefer using the larger standard foot and just moving my needle to the 1/4 setting (which is 1.80 to the right) and then I move it over one more position to 2.0.
For HSTs I cut my squares 3/8" larger than required and then square up the finished HSTs. I don't sew perfectly but I can line up the 45 degree line on my ruler real good! A 3 1/2" HST calls for a 3 7/8" square so I would cut them at 4 1/4". I get better results and the points most often line up perfectly.
For HSTs I cut my squares 3/8" larger than required and then square up the finished HSTs. I don't sew perfectly but I can line up the 45 degree line on my ruler real good! A 3 1/2" HST calls for a 3 7/8" square so I would cut them at 4 1/4". I get better results and the points most often line up perfectly.
#26
Originally Posted by LindaR
Originally Posted by Ninnie
I've never understood why they say scant 1/4 seam. It should either be 1/4 or another size! I just try to take a little off and that has always worked for me.
:lol: 16th at least my mathematical brain would register. I like numbers not words like scant! :evil:
#27
I do all my piecing with my even feed foot on my machine, and it has a mark for the 1/4 inch, I find that if I sew just inside that mark it makes it scant. I am sort of bothered by the 'scant' measurement, but figure if they went to full 1/4 inch, they would say, cut your fabric a scant amount larger than the size they say now.
I did recently pick up a gadget called Seams So Precise and it actually has markings for 1/4 inch and scant 1/4 inch. I haven't actually tried it yet, I am just a gadget junkie.
I did recently pick up a gadget called Seams So Precise and it actually has markings for 1/4 inch and scant 1/4 inch. I haven't actually tried it yet, I am just a gadget junkie.
#29
My problem is never knowing for sure when to use a full 1/4" or a scant unless it's specified. I recently became quite friendly with my seam ripper trying to make the Rosebud block. I'd heard before to use a scant 1/4" on the smaller components in most blocks, then a full quarter when sewing the halves or quarter or thirds together. Well, a scant 1/4" was a miserable mistake, so rip, rip... A full 1/4" made the block slightly less than 9 1/2" when done. Argh!! What's a gal to do?
I've heard the "just be consistent whatever you do", but when I'm consistent with a full 1/4" my blocks don't measure what they're supposed to. It does help some to use a thinner thread, like Superior, but still...
What works for everyone else?
I've heard the "just be consistent whatever you do", but when I'm consistent with a full 1/4" my blocks don't measure what they're supposed to. It does help some to use a thinner thread, like Superior, but still...
What works for everyone else?
#30
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
I measure my smaller components first - to make sure they are right - before adding them to the rest of the block
making one test block before cutting out a bunch of stuff sometimes helps - at least, if there is a glitch, one hasn't messed up a lot of fabric
for the HST and QSTs - I've learned to make bigger and trim down - it's not a totally wasted step - get rid of all the dog ears and messy edges that way, too
making one test block before cutting out a bunch of stuff sometimes helps - at least, if there is a glitch, one hasn't messed up a lot of fabric
for the HST and QSTs - I've learned to make bigger and trim down - it's not a totally wasted step - get rid of all the dog ears and messy edges that way, too
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