The Mystery of the Scant 1/4".
09-05-2011, 03:48 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: montana
Posts: 620
Originally Posted by anngi
Does it really matter if a seam is 1/4" or scant 1/4", as long as seams are all the same width? Anngi
block need to be. if you do a test block or strip & then measure,you will know if you need to adjust. many of you
are already sewing a scant 1/4" & don't realize it.
cut 3 strips 1 1/2" x 4". sew together lengthwise. press carefully & lightly. measure. it should be 3 1/2" wide. if wider, you need to take a larger seam allowance. if narrower, you
need to take less of a seam allowance. sometimes it is just a few threads difference & you learn to eyeball where the seam hits on the edge of your foot. I also do not like the
black,metal strip on those feet. It does not like to go over
seams evenly.
I wish pattern makers would break blocks into increments & tell you the size of each part of a block. then you know right away if you are off. Trudi Hughes always had great
directions--giving partial measurements within a block.
09-05-2011, 05:01 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 768
I solved all the mystery with a Dritz Magnetic Seam Guide. It's a magnet that sets on the metal plate next to your foot for whatever seam allowance you want.http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-R-Seam-G.../dp/B000YZ8N6Y
09-05-2011, 08:50 PM
#36
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midwest City, OK
Posts: 143
Ladies, as most of you probably know, the Dritz Magnetic Seam Guide should not be used on a machine that has a computer in it. I have the Pfaff Expression 4.0 and with the single stitch plate, I can move the needle to the right two clicks, which give me that scant 1/4" seam.
09-06-2011, 07:04 AM
#37
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: North
Posts: 49
I also use scant 1/8" seams for my teeny tiny one inch quilt blocks. I have 1/4" special feet for both my high end Pfaff and Bernina machines. But I always use my Pfaff with its regular foot and the "needle move" feature to move the needle to the right to get it to the exact spot I need for the scant 1/4 or 1/8 seam allowances. And if I am sewing a "large" block, I often start in the middle - sew one end and then go back and sew the beginning section of the block. For me it helps the distortion of the seam allowance because I am clumsy with large blocks. Most quilters don't have this issue.
09-06-2011, 11:01 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: In the middle of an Oklahoma wheat field
Posts: 840
Originally Posted by DMotyl
Originally Posted by RUSewing
I love my 1/4" foot and had to adjust it slightly for the scant 1/4". Now my blocks come out the same size and I wouldn't be ashamed to swap them. Kudos to the inventor :)!
09-06-2011, 11:08 AM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Rosedale, Indiana
Posts: 2,003
Originally Posted by Lacelady
Originally Posted by american homestead
My first advice would be to get
a 1/4" seam allowance foot for
your machine. This will help with
your accuracy and it just makes it
so much easier. The photo above
is the foot for my machine, I love
the fabric guide on the bottom right,
it makes it sooo easy. These days,
you can get a 1/4" seam foot for all
sorts of machines, even older models.
a 1/4" seam allowance foot for
your machine. This will help with
your accuracy and it just makes it
so much easier. The photo above
is the foot for my machine, I love
the fabric guide on the bottom right,
it makes it sooo easy. These days,
you can get a 1/4" seam foot for all
sorts of machines, even older models.
I don't know why manufacturers don't make a 'scant' foot - all they need to do is to file off a tad - if not, why don't quilters get their DH's to do it for them?
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