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Check Your Seam Width Between Machines

Check Your Seam Width Between Machines

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Old 01-23-2020, 02:46 PM
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Default Check Your Seam Width Between Machines

I took my Featherweight to my sewing social group and made up 30 4-at-a-time flying geese. They all came out exactly 2 1/2 x 4 1/2. Perfect.

I came home and did the other 70 on my Janome...and they are all just a bit too small. I didn't bother to check them because the others all came out right and it didn't occur to me that it might be that the machines 1/4" foot might measure differently...

So, don't learn the hard way like me. Check your pieces for sizing every time when you start a new block.

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Old 01-23-2020, 03:06 PM
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Good reminder.
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Old 01-23-2020, 03:59 PM
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That is a good reminder. As I sew on a lot of different machines, I've learned to check it each time before I start and reset the 1/4". Another use for that bag of 2 1/2" squares left over from my hexie project. Leaders and enders and seam allowance trials.

Last edited by cashs_mom; 01-23-2020 at 04:01 PM.
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Old 01-23-2020, 04:54 PM
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I also suggest that you occasionally check on any machine--things loosen up and can be a little off. Plus sometimes the fabric and thread can make a difference once pressed.
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Old 01-23-2020, 06:49 PM
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Thanks for the reminder
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Old 01-23-2020, 08:25 PM
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yes, a good reminder.. I made 2 quilts instead of one for this very reason.
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Old 01-23-2020, 09:15 PM
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I always use the same machine and cutting rulers throughout a project. I think most of us have done the same mistake.....once.
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Old 01-23-2020, 09:20 PM
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A good reminder indeed. My friend and I were doing a sew along, and she used her Brother, and I used my Singer, and we both used a 1/4 in foot. Our pieces didn't match up perfectly either.
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Old 01-24-2020, 12:49 AM
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having a quarter-inch foot is only half the "battle."
needle position is the second half.

i have yet to sit down to any make or model of machine that didn't need the needle shifted at least one click to the left or right in order to get the correct seam allowance.

the trick is to remember which machine require which settings.
(which i don't always remember. so i have to play with scraps when i switch.)
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Old 01-24-2020, 03:19 AM
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Exactly Watson...that is why I have not been working on the BH mystery. I took my Bernina in for service a couple of weeks ago and did not want to jump to another machine brand. I finally retrieved my machine from the dealer this week so I can jump back into the project where I left off.
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