quiltingchic

http://www.sewforless.com/item/1_4_P...ide_SA185/1936
This is what it looks like. but again i agree with Patrice. I have too machines i use and both give me a different size finish they are close as i am getting to know my machines and practice really helps you get to know your machine. A 1/4 inch foot will help you but they are not always perfect. Don't give up it does get way easier
Dawn

Izy

Well I am going to throw a spanner in the works.. I have a quarter inch foot...and used it religiously...until I realised this is why my blocks are always a fraction short... the foot is tooo exact, and everyone mentioned the scant 1/4" and by the time you lose those couple of thread widths it all adds up SOOOOOOO resorted to taping across the throat plate as a guide, it has taken me time, but I think I am getting the hang of it :D Like Patrice says, practice makes perfect...eventually :lol:

stonington

Thanks for the link Dawn, so your fabric just follows that guide? magic! :D -I should be able to get one at the shop where I purchased my machine. I am having a no brainer as to the name of the shop ugh or I would call them. Will have to look up the name when I get home.

:) anne

crispyquilts

All these ladies have great advice. I would like to add a couple of things though...I found that unless I'm in a swap, I really don't care if my blocks are exactly 12.5" square or what ever the size of block I need. I realized that if I fed my fabric under the foot exactly the same way on each piece, all my blocks came out the same size....be that 12.25 or whatever and all came together as a top.

If you really feel you have to have your blocks exact....Cut 3 strips of fabric 2.5" wide by 6.5" long. Measure 1/4" away from your needle, stick down some tape and sew the strips together. Press and measure the square....is it 6.5" square? If not, adjust your guide and try again. Once you have your guide tape where it needs to be, do a couple more to get the hang of it and you should be set to go.

One more thing, using leaders & enders really helps you start and stop in a straight line (as Bellaboo mentioned). Leaders & enders are scrap pieces of fabric you sew first, then sew your piece then sew onto another scrap (leave the ending scrap as it will be your leader for the next piece).
Hope this helps.

Moonpi

Another thing to remember is most needles let you shift posiyion. You may have to switch to a slotted foot. The index card trick mentioned elsewhere on the board will help you find the best spot.

stonington

Slow down lol.. yes I can see that will be a problem for me. Even though I have the sewing machine on a slower setting - sometimes I forget I am sewing and not driving down interstate 95.

:)
anne

eparys

The picture of feet that you posted I expect is what came in your box. Brother lists a quarter inch quilters foot on their web site for that machine

the part number is SA185. Here is one on Ebay - in case you want to see what it looks like.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brother-1-4-SA18...arms=72%3A1205|66%3A3|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1| 294%3A100

ScubaK

I got the 1/4" foot for my brother and it works great for small piecing...
but when doing strips or borders when speed is a factor, well heck! I'm all over the place...
Hence my strip question last weekend...
And I still don't know if I am getting a "true SCANT 1/4" seam"
Kirsten

crashnquilt

If you can't find a 1/4" foot you can mover your needle to the right.

Put on your regular foot, take a small ruler and place under the foot with the edge of the ruler at the edge of the foot. Put the presser foot down and move your needle a notch or 2 to the right, lower it by hand and see if it hits the 1/4" mark. Just keep moving it a notch or two until you have it coming down on the 1/4" mark. Just make a note of the position so that you can go back to that position any time you need too.

stonington

Thank you Eparys! I called the shop where I purchased my sewing machine to see if they had it. (instant gratification lol) and they have been bought out! :( they are liquidating now, restocking starting next week. I will keep that part number though and try them next week. Thanks again!
anne