Where do you focus your eyes when you are machine stitching?
07-18-2010, 09:37 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mapleton, Oregon
Posts: 5,922
I use my walking foot, then I set my needle so that when the material is at the edge of my walking foot, the needle position reads 6.1, and I get a perfect 1/4" seam allowance. But, I set it up for my friend and her 1/4" was 5.9. so you just have to work it out for your machine. But, my blocks always come out the right size, and I don't get frustrated.
07-18-2010, 09:47 AM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Daytona Beach
Posts: 133
I have a strip of tape with lines drawn on it that runs from my needle to where the bed of the machine curves down. I use the lines as guides for sewing half square triangles, putting opposite corners on the lines and keeping them there as I sew. I used a single edged razor blade to cut the tape on both sides of the plastic bobbin cover so it still can be opened. I focus my eyes on the line/corner of the triangle. This may be a solution to those of you concerned about having to remove the tape to change bobbins.
07-18-2010, 10:02 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: West central Illinois
Posts: 2,919
First, when I FMQ I look about an inch infront of the foot so I watch where I am going, not where I've been. when piecing, I watch right in front of the needle.
I also do not draw lines diagonal across squares for HST, I use a couple layers of painters tape and sew from corner to corner.
I also do not draw lines diagonal across squares for HST, I use a couple layers of painters tape and sew from corner to corner.
07-18-2010, 11:01 AM
#15
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: A million dollar view!
Posts: 8,830
Depends on the foot I am using and the type of stitch. The needle already knows where it is going so I have to guide it correctly. There are spots I focus on on the bobbin. I don't watch the needle and I m careful where my fingers are. :?
07-18-2010, 11:05 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 3,699
I started using a 1/4-inch foot on my Janome. It works like a charm and I am able to focus on it better than a line I had drawn on my machine. The foot has a metal piece that comes down over the right hand edge of the foot and allows me to butt my fabric against it. I tried a test block and it does measure a true 1/4-inch seam.
07-18-2010, 11:30 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: The woods of Northern Maine
Posts: 816
Originally Posted by dsb38327
Originally Posted by Lori L
I haven't gone to the extreme you have ( don't have the red line) but I also have added a 1/4" guide to my throat plate using 1/4" quilting tape built up in several layers. I found using only my pressure foot to guide me made me inconsistent and I'm not sure why. Probably as you suggested and I wasn't focusing my eyes on that spot. I have found since I placed my tape guide to my throat plate I am very consistent with my 1/4" seams and I find my eyes tend to go from the pressure foot and the needle back to my 1/4" tape guide and things work well!
my tapes a little dinged up.....time to put a new layer on
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07-18-2010, 03:55 PM
#20
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MS
Posts: 3,434
Originally Posted by quiltinghere
If you have #3 over your bobbin area, do you remove it each time you have to fill the bobbin and then realign it? Is it a pain?
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