I found that if I am REALLY, REALLY careful at every single stage I CAN get a scant 1/4" seam. But you know what? I ain't havin' no fun that way. So I decided to try to pick patterns that I can cut down to size or where the scant 1/4" won't be essential.
My 1/4" seams are better than they used to be. And maybe someday I'll get it. But in the meantime, I just wanna have fun and I don't intend to stress over it.