I do all my straight sewing on my featherweight. I have a guage that you put the needle thru and then lay down my good old standby-moleskin- to place beside the little ruler thing and it gives you a great scant 1/4 inch. Besides that I always, before a teacher in class gave us this little gadget, alwys measured the scant 1/4 inch with a regular ruler by putting the foot down, the needle on the 1/4 inch line or a hair less and then the Mole skin. My newer machines have the 1/4 inch foot but I never seem to be happy with the seam but I know I can use the moleskin but after so many years I go back to my featherweights. Just be consistant with all the pieces. So what if they are a little over the 1/4 inch are the quilt police going to come look for you! Enjoy quilting.