Originally Posted by
Terri D.
Maybe it's not your seam allowance. Maybe the wonkiness you're referring to is happening in the cutting stage? This was my biggest obstacle when first starting out. Just a thought....
A very good point.
It was true for me. Basic stupid question: Are you using a rotary cutter and a good ruler? I started with scissors and my accuracy improved tremendously just by switching to a rotary cutter.
Does your machine have a straight stitch throat plate and if it does are you using it? I'm assuming you have a newer zigzag machine with a front opening door for the bobbin. I know others here have reported better results by using the straight stitch throat plate on their machines, at the very least it prevents the fabric from being sucked down into the feed dog opening. I use an old straight stitch machine so it doesn't apply to me.
I use a seam guide too and I line it up by setting a ruler under the needle at the 1/4" mark or just a tiny bit narrower and butting the guide up against it. You just have to be careful to keep both pieces of fabric just touching it.
I also use a sewing stiletto to guide the last part of the fabric thru the machine to keep the corners from drifting.
Rodney