bizzibee

Every time I get to the end of a seam my fabric starts to tail off to the left of my presser foot. Is there something I can do to stop this?

DogHouseMom

A few things ....

Feed dogs might be dirty - have lint in them.
Too much pressure on the presser foot - there is usually a release button on the top of the machine directly above the presser foot.
Bottom of presser foot dirty

Other than the above, a few things that have alleviated that problem for me ...

1) I almost always use a leader to start each piece, and and ender at the end of each piece. I always stop with the needle down and as soon as one piece is finished I lift the presser foot slightly (just enough to slide fabric under it, but not enough to disengage the tensioner) then continue to sew on to the ender.
2) I switched seam guides. I don't use a 1/4" guide that is attached to the presser foot, I use the type of seam guide that screws down to the base of the machine and can slide in or out to the desired position. I then adjust my needle position for a proper 1/4" finished seam. The seam guide I use has a long "rail" that is a good 2" in front of the presser foot which helps me guide the fabric for the whole length of the fabric.
3) Use your left hand to gently guide the fabric through the machine. If the piece is very small and does not present enough to grab/hold with your fingers - insert a long straight pin leaving the tip of the pin at least 1/2" from the 1/4" seam - now you have a "handle".

I quickly set my machine up with my guide and a smaller piece with pins inserted. Photo below. Hope this helps show what I'm talking about.

joyce888

Not knowing your machine I can only guess at some things that might be a problem. Is there lint in your feed dogs? When the foot is lowered without any fabric under it, does it look like its sitting evenly? When your feeding the fabric through are you pulling it with your left hand at the end? Try using what's called an ender. When you get to the end of your piecing put a scrap the foot to sew on to.

NJ Quilter

I just keep the index finger of my left hand on top of the fabric and guide the fabric along to the foot and keep my index finger along the left edge of my foot. Keep this going until the fabric is past the needle.

GingerK

I sort of do what NJ Quilter does. I also use a stiletto ( or my seam ripper in an emergency) to help guide the last bit of fabric thru. I think sometimes it is the sheer weight of the fabric that you have already sewn. If it is not absolutely straight behind your machine, it will influence that last little bit of the seam, pulling it out of alignment. I can't seem to get into the hang of using leaders and enders, so have learned to compensate with determination!!

QuiltE

You already have some good suggestions. Consider them all and see what might help give you the results you want.
I'll add to DHMom's list .......

4) If you have one of the newer machines with the wider 9mm feed dogs, your fabric may not be getting fed into the machine straight because the foot being used is not fully covering the feed dogs. Ask your dealer about the foot required. For the newer Berninas it would be the 97D

5) Do you have the single hole plate in? If you have the zigzag foot, the fabric has more slippage possible, especially if you have the 9mm feed dogs.

Barb in Louisiana

I was tailing off like you. I found I was taking my eye off where the edge of the fabric was as I was coming to the end of the seam. I started making sure I kept the fabric straight all the way to the needle and the problem was solved most of the time.

Then I noticed that when I set my needle in the left position and ran my fabric along the inside edge of my presser foot, my fabric wasn't on both feed dogs all the way. I didn't realize how much slippage this caused. I have Brother machines, and the feed dogs are wider than my old Singer. Now, I am trying something new. I have changed to a foot I can use with the center stitch on my machine and adjusting my needle so that I get a 1/4" seam by letting the material ride along the outside edge of my foot, thus making sure the fabric is connecting with both feed dogs. I'm having to work a bit harder to keep the seam straight but am getting a more consistent pull.

luana

4) If you have one of the newer machines with the wider 9mm feed dogs, your fabric may not be getting fed into the machine straight because the foot being used is not fully covering the feed dogs. Ask your dealer about the foot required. For the newer Berninas it would be the 97D

I agree with QuiltE. If your machine has the option to set the needle over, you will notice that the edge of the fabric is fed directly over the feed dogs. It took me a long time to figure this out. I couldn't understand why anyone would mess with moving the needle or changing the foot just to sew a 1/4 inch seam. With these adjustments, my machine "pulls" in the fabric beginning to end straight and even. Good luck.

nabobw

I am sorry to say but everyone I know has the same problem. It is not your machine it just happens.

Sewnoma

Oh, that's a neat tip, adding the pin to serve as a "handle". I've been messing around with some Drunkard's Path pieces I cut some time ago (while visiting another QB'er!) and even after buying the "Curve Master" foot and using a stiletto I still go off-kilter for that last little quarter-inch or so and it's very frustrating. I am going to try the pin-handle idea and see if that helps!