Sewflower

I really never understood the "scant". I think originally it was called that is because if you saw a 1/4 in you will lose some in the measurement from the take up of fabric. You should always use the needle position for your measurement not the foot. Most mistakes are made before sewing begins. I'm with the others check and recheck at the different steps.

knittersue

http://www.sewvacdirect.com/janome-c...and-guide-set/

JSKY

If you make the entire pattern using the same seam allowance ( your i/4 inch ) it should all go together just fine.

Sanpot

I had the same problem until I realised that I had to move the "zigzag" button (which moves the needle over) to 4, on my Janome 6600.

weegrannie

Sometimes with the 1/4 foot with the sidebar there is a tendanct to push the fabric against it making the 1/4" larger.

LynnVT

When making something for myself or my own design, I don't worry much about this stuff. However, I'm making some D9Ps for the batik block exchange, and have cut out 6 blocks. Made the first one and it came out exactly 12", not the 12 1/2" I need. The pattern, which came from Quiltmaker magazine, said it was a 12" block, but I assumed that meant actually 12.5. Since it's going in the swap, which has to be perfect, I'm going to have to refigure it all. These tips might help. Sure is frustrating. Oh, and I have a Janome 9000, use the 1/4" foot, but never knew if I can move the needle to make it smaller. Does anyone have that machine who can tell me?

Scrap41

This has happened to me also, until I learned that you must
put the line on the ruler on top of the cut pieced to get an
accurate square or whatever you are cutting out. You can't
butt the line up to the cut side...it will short your piece. So
if you can't move your needle, try this. Hope it helps.
I am new to this board today....and needed to sign in to
let you know what happened to me.

Friday1961

I've been sewing for 40 plus years. Made all my clothes, kid clothes, curtains, swimsuits, wedding clothes, a full nursery layette, even made my husband a suit once! So I knew my way around a sewing machine and patterns when I began quilting. But quilting--with its preciseness--is, I've learned, very different. I tend to teach myself things, with the help of those who have been there before me. So, when I began my first quilt a couple of years ago, a simple 9 patch of my own design, from 100% Cranston cotton bought at Wal-Mart, I printed out a few instructions on line, and went to work. I sewed a 1/4" seam on all the pieces, sewed in sashing and borders as suggested by my online sources, used the backing as binding, and the quilt--a throw size--came out fine. I even handquilted it because I wanted to learn how and wanted the experience.

Now, two years later, I'm reading and learning more about quilting and the whole thing has become more complicated--and I have to say--less enjoyable. I agree with whoever wrote that if you use the same 1/4" seam consistently and are not using a bought pattern (I've never used a pattern but have made quilts I see in photos or online; I figure out the blocks by looking at the finished quilt) then whatever seam allowance you use should work. Although, as others have pointed out, different fabrics and/or thread do create differences--I'm currently working on a star quilt in which I have lighter and heavier weight fabrics and I see how differently they sew and press--but I'm making slight adjustments for that as I go.

This whole discussion on the dreaded scant 1/4 inch makes me anxious. I keep remembering how happily ignorant I was when I first began quiltmaking. And how well that worked for me!

LyndaOH

Accufeed is Janome's system for feeding the top and bottom fabric evenly. It's not available on all of their machines. I believe Pfaff has something similar called the Dual Feed foot but again it's only available on certain machines.

bearisgray

mme3924 - it sounds like you are doing fine.

If you can make a man's suit, I would think you could piece any quilt block.

If the blocks are turning out to be the size you want them to be, don't fret about it!

It appears to me that quilting projects can vary from quite simple to extremely complex. It does make sense to me that one would have better results with a complex project if one's simpler ones are turning out 'as expected.'