lfletcher

When a pattern calls for scant quarter inch seams, I just ignore it. My Janome has a 1/4" foot that produces a good seam and my blocks usually measure the size the pattern calls for.

GramE

When working with triangles, my experience says no scant 1/4". But I have to work to avoid the fat quarter inch!

ManiacQuilter2

I have only read for a scant 1/4" seam is when making very tiny blocks. Just be consistent with your seam allowance and you should be fine.

bakermom

I find consistancy is the key for me

caspharm

The scant 1/4" is usually about 1-2 threads different than 1/4."

MadQuilter

Most patterns work well with a consistent 1/4" seam. Learning to adjust for triangle patterns and making sure that points don't get lost is part of the learning process. If I had been expected to sew a scant 1/4" to start, I would have probably given up. Learning to do a consistent 1/4" is hard enough to start.

Pennyhal

I use a "scant" 14" seam allowance because when the seam allowance gets folded to one side it creates a tiny bump. That bump takes up a tiny amount of fabric and the piece no longer measures accurately. On my machine, I don't stitch on the sewing line. I stitch just next to the line on the raw edge side of the seam line which is a "scant" seam allowance for me.

Stitchnripper

Some machines, especially vintage straight stitchers, don't allow for moving the needle over one notch. The machine I made my first quilt with was like this. I had to use a pack of post it notes to keep me consistent. I agree with PaperPrincess and others who have posted to make test pieces til the part that is important measures as it should, not the part that is to the right of the needle. the tutorial linked to is very clear to me.

maviskw

I made the strip set quilt from Man Sewing, using 7 strips, then cutting a square the same size as the resulting strip set. I usually use a scant 1/4 inch seam, maybe even a scant, scant 1/4 inch. So with seven strips, it got wider than it was supposed to, and when I cut the squares, I found I could only get two squares out of the strip set instead of three. What a waste. Right now it is a UFO, but I will get at it one of these days and fix it. Some of the strips will need a short patch at the end, but I'll make it work.

wellphooey

Yep, that's what I do too. It makes a huge difference in getting all of my seams to match up. Especially good when doing those flippy corner thingys: sew just along, but not on, the raw edge-side seam line. Then when you fold over that corner it matches up beautifully with the underneath corner part, giving you a true-sized patch. Works for me.