Thread: Why a scant 1/4 seam?

Stunning!!!!!

Originally Posted by ManiacQuilter2

I have done numerous bargellos from Eileen's two books and I don't recall any required scant 1/4" seam. She does have some skinny unfinished seam down to 1" but it is only when you try to do 3/4" width strip that it is best to stitch those seams a little skinny. I also press my seams away from the thinnest strip to avoid any bulk problem with my seams. I have changed patterns and no long cut any bargello strip less than an 1" wide. It is just not worth working with that narrow of a strip. Usually I have seen that a skinny 1/4" suggested with very tiny miniature blocks. Here is Eileen's table runner pattern from her first book that I made for a friend. I also made one in Xmas fabrics for another friend.

On Page 14 of the book( in the highlighted pink area)Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts it does indeed say a scant 1/4 inch seam is used for everything that is in the book.

Can I be your new friend? Lovely work!

They are beautiful! I have never attempted one before.

I hate patterns that say "scant" quarter inch. I just use my 1/4" foot and my blocks measure just fine. Consistency is the key. I am extra careful, though, when I am doing a block exchange to make certain my blocks measure the correct size. However, I usually get a variety of sizes in the blocks in return.

Scant 1/4 inch implies that we are all speaking the same language. We all know that scant means 'no more than'. Also, it allows our minds to think in a consistent way. I would hate to have to change the seam allowance width in my mind-let alone practice with each new project. I'm sure I would have mixed seam allowances within a project.

i think with Quilting books and patterns and stuff, it's like flying geese. People do them different ways. They make them their own. All Bargello quilts are truelly beautiful.