Originally Posted by Miss Priss
Put a peice of tape at your 1/4" line. If it is not exact that is ok, as long as your are consistent lining up at that mark.
This doesn't hold true if you're piecing small pieces. A quilt instructor once told me that even a thread off in each seam over the length or width of the quilt could amount to over an inch or two in distortion. She said a pattern would tell you to use 1/4" or scant 1/4" and it's best to stay in that range. Starching might help with accuracy.