[QUOTE=bearisgray;8708471]To check:

You need to scroll down a bit to get to it

https://villarosaquilts.com/2022/08/...eam-allowance/


Thanks for the article Bearisgray. I think it summed up the best - "to find YOUR very best 1/4″ seam allowance and stick with it. Your pieces will still fit together as long as you’re consistent."

I would actually prefer a scant size larger than the 1/4" seam allowance, but I sew with the quarter inch foot on my machines and make do.

Plus there is the issue of measurement. Are you using the inside, outside or middle of the line on the ruler. I'm not good enough to feed my material under the needle perfectly straight. There always seems to be even a tiny bit of waver where I lost my focus or went too fast or blinked. This tiny bit of movement affects the depth of the seam allowance so I just do the best I can and most of my stuff matches up quite well. I'm careful but not fussy.

It depends on the pattern. If I need to have things a certain size, I use what gets me that size. It's often a scant 1/4" that seems to make things come out right. Otherwise, I use a full quarter. I use a quarter inch foot on my machines but have found that I can easily adapt to a scant quarter inch if I need it just by lining my fabric up a bit under the edge of the foot.

I rarely use scant unless pattern calls for it like bulky seams. Other than that consistency is more important

Most of my quilt pieces are cut using the Accuquilt and they are cut to use exact 1/4" inch for all the points to be pointy and all the pieces to fit. I rarely have to square up. The Juki TL machines come with a scant 1/4" foot and I use that and get an exact 1/4" seam. I don't question why; it works so that's what I use. Every machine foot is different when it comes to 1/4". Aggravating.

I find that the only way most blocks fit perfectly for me is with a scant 1/4" seam. My Janome has a 1/4" foot with the metal guide, but I need to move my needle two clicks to the right to get the scant seam allowance. I once made a quilt of blocks that required three different settings to get the pieces to fit with all points intact. Each block contained 43 pieces. That was a nightmare, but the quilt was lovely once I had the system figured out.

Years ago I watched a quilters show that had a little lady as a guest. She did not believe in quilt police and she said whether you use a 1/4" seam or a scant one, just be consistent. That's what I do and it seems to work for me. I use a 1/4" because it is easier to see on my machine.

quilters show that had a little lady as a guest.

That little lady quilter was probably Jean Ray Laury. She was a breath of fresh air in the quilt police world of having to follow the rules.