whatever

not sure I'm in the right place for this. I have a pattern that tells you the off set will be 1/4"
How do you off set seams I checked you tube and google its a steering wheel cover pattern and I know I may be way over my head but the only way to learn is to try................... Thank you

ckcowl

it sounds as if it is telling you to sew with a 1/4" seam??? maybe the seam allowance is not included in the pattern?
could you show pictures- or more information about the instructions? then we may be able to explain it better. could be you are supposed to turn each piece so the seams lock---we need more information in order to help.

MacThayer

I have been through every quilting reference book I have, including The Quilting Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face, 500 Quilting Tips, Techniques & Trades Secrets, and several other basic "learn to quilt" books. I even googled "off set seams" and came up with nothing. I think there's a problem here with the terminology.

Does the pattern give you a size for the pieces of fabric you're supposed to cut? If so, are they all an even size, or do they all end in a ½". For example, are the pieces of fabric all 1" or 2" or always ending in an even number? Or do they end in 1½", 2½, etc. If it's the former, just the straight 1" or 2" (or 4" or 6" or whatever), chances are excellent that they haven't accounted for a seam allowance, and they are telling you to add ¼" seam allowed all around, thus during the piece into, for example, a 2½" square. That means an extra ¼" seam allowance on each of the four sides, right? Does this make sense?

Does the pattern come as a set of blocks? Does it give the overall block size? Say for example it's made up of 8" blocks. If you take the sizes of fabric that they give you and don't add seam allowances, draw it to scale on a piece of paper, and then measure it, and it comes out to 8" exactly, then you KNOW they haven't added seam allowances. There's no possible way you could sew this block together without adding seam allowances to each piece of fabric. Does this make sense?

I'll subscribe to this blog, so if you have any questions about what I've written, you can just post again.

Freddie

What I recall about offsetting, is that you do not place heavy seams on top of each other, but place side by side, (offsetting 1/4 inch) It is used sometimes for heavy materials, such as denims, canvasses, etc. Don't know if that applies to your project, but take a look at it. Good luck!!!

Krisb

I'm with Freddie, thinking that you offset the seam lines by 1/4" to avoid the bulk. If it's a steering wheel cover made of vinyl or some other very thick fabric, it would be tough going for a domestic machine.

Scissor Queen

Off setting means to have the distance of a quarter of an inch between the seams.

CarrieC

Okay I headed over to a another favorite site of mine and found a good thread. It even has pictures.

http://sewing.patternreview.com/Sewi...ns/topic/60690

I think it is as Freddie and Krisb described!

whatever

Thank all of you for your help now to buy the fabric and dive in thank you so much again for your help