I really don't like sewing a 1/4 inch seam and after having one of my quilts frayed really bad when I washed it I went to a half inch seam. I feel that the half inch seam is better and the quilt seems to be more stable when quilting it. My Mom always used 1/2 inch seams and my sister still has some of the quilts that my Grandma had and she used the 1/2 inch seam and the quilts are still around.