Oh...the dreaded quarter-inch, eh? I've yet another masking tape quick fix for that one! Grab a roll of tape and a sharp razor blade. Make two slices about two inches apart from each other and through several layers of tape. Grab a quilting ruler that you know has an exact quarter-inch measure on it. Raise the presser foot and needle, then put the ruler under the needle area with the quarter-inch bit facing off to your right. Let the needle of your machine lower until it touches that line. Make sure it's nice and straight from front to back, then pull off that fat bit of masking tape and stick it right along the edge of that ruler. This should give you a nice plump "bumper" that will help tame the fabric wander problem. There are other products out there that work, but this one comes straight from Masking Tape Queen Leslee...Ta-Dah!!!!
PS: I'm in Southern California :D You could probably tell!

Joy, I see from your other posts you are using a regular sewing machine so I would recommend either the old stitch in the ditch which works so well for sewing machines or a simple meander. I use a longarm and would normally do a baptist fan on a rail fence. A design with a curving flow nearly always works well on a block to block design with simple squares or rectangles. The curve of the quilting gives the piece a softer look of movement. Happy stitching.

Leslee, two good ideas about the masking tape, am gonna try them.
I'm N. Calif. here.

A short stack of "post-it" sheets also works well as a "bumper". When the bottom one no longer wants to stick, just peel it off and you are ready to go again.

Suzanne

:mrgreen: Of course

If you were from a southern state, you would only use duct tape for anything tape-able. If it moves and it shouldn't, apply duct tape. If it doesn't move, but should, apply WD-40!

Hey now, Moonpi... I resemble that remark!! :lol: (I just bought a new roll of duct tape & a new can of WD-40 last weekend... :lol: :lol: It's great stuff!! Y'all should try it sometime!!

I always give my southern friends that combination as a wedding present. Usually they thank me and take it into their wedding night suite. (???!!!)

They always have smiles on their faces in the morning but won't tell me why. (?!)

tim in san jose

:lol: Tim! :shock:

That would be... Tim (!!!)

tim in san jose

Okay, southern or not, I better not catch any of you applying duct tape or WD40 to any sewing machine! What is wrong with you! :roll: