When making a 1/4 in seam I've always had a problem with the fabric wanting to go to the left and the end of the seam is too narrow. I've always fought this but to no avail! I'm now using a wooden toothpick to help hold it in place but still does the little trick . Any of you have this problem - fess up. :( :( :(

I find myself doing it...........I'm ok if I keep my mind on what I am doing...I think it was leftover from making clothes.....like darts :D

Ruth - this happens even tho' I'm doing my very best to keep the end of the seam straight. Is it the machine? Do you have any remedys other than pay attention? :?

Now I have a good excuse for the very same problem. I did dressmaking for years, but I don't recall having tht problem with seams in general.

I have heard that some sewing machines sew really straight seams, so I am wondering if the feed dogs do not carry the fabric through in a straight line? I started quilting about 7 years ago and soon realized I had this problem. I have tried to keep my mind focused on that bit at the end of the seam, but I come out with that end of the seam narrower than the beginning. I am totally frustrated.

Either I need a new machine (which ones DON'T do this.
or I need a new set of eyes?

So, MarMar, you are not alone with this stupid problem. I flip the piece over and start from the opposite end (sometimes) but it is a general nuisance!

Help!!! June in Cincinnati

I have that problem, too. I think I have a tendency to pull it that way with my guiding hand. A pin helps, but I do have to pay attention. Maybe the feeder dogs are pulling it htat way. Also, adjusting the pressure on the foot may help.

Mine does that too, though I find gently guiding the fabric from behind helps. If it gets too bunched up behind the machine, that is when I have problems. Fold, roll, or scoot the material away as it goes through.

maybe we should try going wider at the end and see what happens.
IITYWYBMAB :wink:

OK what does IITWYBMAB mean?

Steve, this happens even when I am sewing very short seams. I can certainlly see where longer seams would tend to bunch up, but ones that are 2 1/2 up to about 6 inches don't have much chance to bunch. Thanks anyway.

Come on guys, we need more answers!!!

Where are the experts?

June

ifitellyouwillyoubuymeabeer?

I think it has something to do with the 1/4" and at the end the feed dogs don't have enough to hold onto so it gets crooked, now if only I had a solution!

Aha! I thought it might have something to do with the pressure foot and feed dog! I never hear anyone whining about this and I have finally felt defeated with my nice straight seam but the doing what it wants at the very end. Well. Remedies, anyone? Marmar

Thank you, it was driving me crazy. I even went to the "Net Abbreviations" site.

It might help if you sew onto another piece of fabric. That also catches the threads. I like to start and end chains of seams with little swatches for that reason.

I think Cathe is on the right track - I do this too. Another reason could be the weight on long runs, pulling one way or another

When Simply Quilts was on the air they had a show about this. The lady (don't remember who) said that we are in such a hurry to chain piece that we start reaching for the next piece before we are finished with the one under the needle and by not paying attention our seams end up not being 1/4" to the bitter end.
Her solution... use a stiletto to help guide the seam through to the end and FOCUS on what we're sewing and not reaching for the next piece. It's good advice. Now all I have to do is remember to follow it. It does work when I'm focused! :wink:

This happens to me too sometimes when I'm not paying attention. I try to keep the index finger of my left hand up close to the presser foot when I'm coming to the end of a seam. When I remember to keep it close and hold the fabric in position, the seam comes out normal.

I like cathe's idea too. I don't seem to have the problem when I'm chain piecing because I have another piece of fabric right there in position just before the end of the seam. I think that's doing the same thing for me as what cathe suggested to you. :)

lin, cathe and the others are right, i'm afraid. we have to pay attention. (not good. :cry: i'm too easily distracted by shiny objects. )

i just experimented with about 4 different feet - including an "official" quarter-inch foot. the feed dogs definitely pull the fabric off line toward the end. i'll bet it happens on all machines. i'll also bet kathy came up with the right reason why.

the foot that came the closest to keeping the fabric feeding through in a straight line without help was my rolling foot. a few of the scraps went wonky at the end, but most stayed straight to within one thread. it was also the foot that required the least help/lightest touch straightening back out when i saw it happening.

i didn't try my walking foot. too big a pain to put on and take off. i don't like using it anyway. too noisy. one of those might do a better job of keeping the fabric straight, though. (if they don't, they need to stop selling them as "even feed" feet, don'tch think? LOL)

My 4Hers had a similar problem, so I gave then a sandwich pick (stronger and longer than a toothpick) as I don't want those little fingers getting hurt. They call it a "picker" and if the needle is going to hit something, I'd rather it be wooden vs. metal (seam ripper or pin).

And I also suggest using the walking foot. I find that it is on my machine most of the time. I just find I have better control and am happier with my results.

Suzanne

Sewing on another piece doesn't do it --- I measured this am (early) and it begins about a scant 1/2 in or less from the end. Dray - I'm concrntrating because it's been a problem for so long. - use a stilleto (toothpick) , both hands, eyes, get my nose out of joint, and it's like gravel in my peanut butter! Evidently my cross to bear, huh! :? :? :?

BUT are you holding your tongue just so?
:mrgreen:

shame on you, yvonne! of course she is! it's just that her dog is facing in the wrong direction when she sews. :lol:

seriously, though, marmar ... i don't know whether this would help or not but try changing to a smaller needle size and changing needles more often. and look for a foot with a nice wide bottom that will hold onto the fabric for as long as possible.

2 more questions: (1) do you sew with pins? (2) do you starch your fabrics? everything is so much easier for me if my fabric is well starched. (ok ... less difficult; fewer disasters; wouldn't go so far as to imply that everything is easy for me. soooooooooo not the case. LOL)

Gosh, if you're doing all that to try to keep them straight, then I don't know what to tell you. It sounds like you're doing everything right. I like Patrice's idea of a different, wider presser foot. Something's gotta work!

Marmar,
You have the right idea using a toothpick, but that puts your fingers really close to the needle. Try a small bamboo skewer instead. They are about $1 for a pkg of 20 at the grocery store.
It helps when I slow down a little towards the end, too.

Yvonne, I notice this happening even when I don't chain piece. Also I think the idea of stitching onto another piece of fabric would work, but what then? And please don't you dare tell me the seam ripper is my best buddy, we're already on a first name basis. :roll:

Patrice, I feel so foolish, I never even gave a thought to simply using starch. If you were here, I'd give you a big hug and kiss. Thanks from the bottom of my heart, you're truly a God send! :thumbup:

I have unpicked more seams that have veered off to the left. My two solutions were to draw a 1/4" seam and sew on the drawn line. The other was to put two 1/4" strips of tape side by side and watch the fabric at the tape instead of the needle. Your eye on the inside of the tape's right edge. Somehow having the second piece of tape in place allowed me to sew a good 1/4". Oh, I have also been known to mark the last 1/2" of the seam line with a marker and ruler when I chain stitch. It's a drag but anything is better than unpicking seams that I have rushed thru.

Try using "sizing" rather than the spray starch - very similar results. I find the sizing does not leave the white residue that often happens with the starch. Guess you could always starch on the wrong side of the fabric if you get the residue.

Suzanne

Lots of suggestions and all of them seem to have merit. I'm thinking the idea of the fabric not on the feed dogs completely is a big part of my problem - my needle position doesn't move to the right- if I could do that I think the fabric would be on the feed dogs and under the foot well so that when the needle was moved right I would still get the 1.4 in seam. My struggles over the weekend to do good seams left me with wrinkles between my eyes, face tomato soup red and urge to pick up machine and throw! Am game to try try again - like I told a friend the other day, these mistakes are too much fun to do only once! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :?:

Marmar, I love your attitude! "these mistakes are too much fun to do only once!" You are absolutely right on!

One more suggestion that I haven't seen unless I've overlooked it which could ceratinly be, is to slow way down at the end of the seam. Hey, it couldn't hurt. I'm usually in a hurry and want it done, like, yesterday! I think I'm my own worst stitching troll! I'm sure there must be a troll living under my machine that's playing havock with my seams. Couldn't be me!

I agree on those trolls under the machine - how could we be doing this all by ourselves? No way - we've gotta have help from somewhere! :wink:

This is true. I watched a video on Square in a Square and she always uses a stiletto to push the fabric along. I find that does help, but I also keep my left hand on the fabric to make sure it doesn't pull away to the left. The more weight on that side, the more it pulls that way.

Also, I use the 1/4 inch foot for all straight piecing, and I make sure I am watching every piece go through. I hate ripping out seams as much as anyone else!

If this suggestion is on the thread already , please forgive - I didn't see it. Because the seam isn't pressed open, you might try puting it under the pressure foot and sewing a seam to straighten the seam that veered. NO ripping out! After it's pressed you can't tell! :twisted: :twisted:

I have 3 feet that I have been trying out for machine piecing on my new machine. I found that 2 of them work well and one gives me problems, it wants to veer off, and always in the same direction. I used to work in a metal manufacturing shop and so I got to looking at the bottom of the foot and it was poorly manufactured. The foot is not completely flat. I guess one way to check this would be to put some fabric under your foot, lower the presser foot and gently tug on the fabric and see if it pulls out evenly or if it slightly swings to the side. I guess it is like anything else, some good, some not so good. Anyway I thought that I would pass this on as a possiblility to your woes, also.

I have this problem all the time - what a pain. Now I stop a little way before the seam end with needle still in fabric, lift the foot and readjust the fabric. If necessary, I go back and restitch very slowly. Seems to help most of the time. I think it happens because the foot extends beyond the material at the end of the seam and with nothing under it just wanders out of line. Do I just imagine this?

I watched a class on piecing and she used a small piece of wash away stablizer at the end of her pieces especially ones that needed a sharp point when pressed open to help stablize the end of the fabric and avoid the movement of the 1/4 line that happens at the end. It washes away when the quilt is washed. And the points on stars are perfect and won't tear open. She also mentioned that some 1/4 feet are not 1/4" when you sew with them so you need to measure after you sew to check your foot. I tried this tip on a star border and it worked great.

One thing I do that helps me keep my fabric going straight is put a strip of mole skin to the right of the needle on the plate at the 1/4" mark. I can keep the fabric butted up against that and I don't veer nearly as much. I tend to veer to the right (I think I push with my left hand a little) and my seam is a little fatter at the end. With the mole skin as a guide, it's not nearly as big a problem for me. I have to swap the mole skin out pretty often as it gets ragged looking, but it doesn't take a very big piece and it's not terribly expensive. I've seen people on tv use a thickness of painters tape also.

I was having the same problem and having the foot not liking going over bumps like flying geese. I talked to an expert at the yearly quilt show. She said my machine had wide feed dogs and to replace my 1/4 in foot with an edging foot and adjust my needle to find 1/4 in. I havnt tried it yet but she was right about my foot not covering all the feed dog. This foot will hold the fabric better. Check and see if your dogs are covered by your 1/4 in foot.

I also had that problem. I was using a clear foot with a wide space between the "toes". There wasn't enough foot meeting the dog. I changed to a narrower metal foot with more contact and that helped a lot. Also, I found if I press my finger down on the fabric beside the foot during that last inch, it will stay in place. Just stay focused with your finger that close to the needle.

Just to let you guys know.. since reading this and keeping it in my mind... I have just completed 31 strips ... AND NONE VEER OFF.

WOOT WOOOOOO finally!

I am glad MAR Mar brought this up as I think it helped many of us to focus on that portion of our quilt making. By golly, you have to be a good carpenter to build a house, measuring every step of the way. In the same way we have to make good seams to build a quilt that is eye eppealing with matching seams.

THANKS LOADS, MAR MAR