lorli

Why why why can't I sew in a straight line?

I thought it was my poor cutting skills, so when I decided to try the tube quilting, I bought the precut strips! How can anything go wrong? But it did. My strip sets of 3 strips are not straight and I have trouble sewing them into tubes.

I am trying really hard not to pull on the fabric strips - I just don't understand it!

Grrr.

Astramorgaine

Patience young grasshopper, and lots of practice does it take to sew straight... I'm still practicing sewing a straight line too. Keep trying :)

paintedquilt

Straight lines can be really hard. Use a 1/4" foot and put a marker (ie a pad of sticky notes right on the 1/4" mark on your sewing machine. Do not go over the pad or vear to the left under your 1/4" presser foot. When you press (not iron) make sure there are no folds (no matter how small at the seam line.

Following the above and lots and lots of practice and you will be sewing straighter than an arrow - good luck :idea: :idea:

MadQuilter

I saw where children are tough using grid paper first and then they draw lines on regular paper and sew over those JUST to get the practice.

Don't give up. Maybe your strips are not printed straight. (Not all stripes are created equal) Are you sitting square to your machine? Is your foot pedal close or do you have to reach? Do you go too fast?

Do you have a guide that helps you keep the seam allowance consistent? I use the 1/4" foot, others use tape or mole-skin pads as guides.

Scissor Queen

It might not be you. It could be your machine. I thought I couldn't sew straight either until I bought a Pfaff 10 years ago. Before I bought it I was using an old Montgomery Wards machine. You had to sort of sew at an angle to do quarter inch seams because the needle didn't move over and the feed dogs were set too wide for quarter inch seams.

Then I sewed on the Pfaff. Wow. What an improvement!

grammatjr

When I read this post, I thought of 2 things, the machine being one. I have seen some machines where the feed dogs do not move evenly (like the left moves further than right for ex.). This causes the fabric to take a turn.

The other thing was that you were trying to go too fast. Maybe ease up on the pedal a little, or even pack it so you can't go too fast.

Oh, and one more - are you watching the needle? That can make you sort of dizzy. Watch the fabric just ahead of the foot, or watch the mark (someone suggested a note pad) that tells where the right side fabric edge should be.

Good luck.

Oklahoma Suzie

I've had problems too.

watterstide

Change your needle to an older one..then get some index cards, and practice on them..following the lines..i do believe the lines are 1/4" apart from each other anyways.
if no index cards, draw some lines on paper with a ruler..or use ink and draw lines on scrap fabric..

i wish i could come over and help you! Just don't give up!

( i will have to double check that for you)

littlehud

I still have that problem. My 1/4 inch foot helped alot.

Mousie

I can't be sure, but you may be making the same mistake I did, when first learning.
I paid more attention to the width of the seam allowances, than to the part of the strip that would 'show'.
Use a mechanical pencil, it gives the thinnest line, and using your rotary ruler, draw your sewing lines on the wrong side of your fabric. Only make it dark enought to see. You don't want it to show through.
If you use these lines as your sewing guide, I don't have any that show through.
I still do this, often, when making very long borders, etc.
Beats pulling your hair out!:wink: