If you go to http://www.guidelines4quilting.com/PT.html you will find their Prep-Tool. It makes a scant 1/4" seam. They sell Seam Guides (5 to a pack) that don't leave any sticky residue and can be reused to place as a guide for the scant 1/4" seam. The Prep-Tool has a few uses. I love it. I've used it on all three of my sewing machines.

I don't use any foot with a guide on it, especially a quarter inch foot.

One downfall of the foot with a guide is that the fabric can sometimes go underneath the guide without your even knowing it. That defeats the whole purpose and messes up the seam allowance. If you're not aware that the guide isn't working, you may never know why things don't line up right down the road. Fabric never slips under moleskin, guaranteed! :)

find one for your particular machine. that makes a difference. and the guide is important although your holding the fabric pieces can alter the seam by pushing it too much into the guide or letting it migrate away from it. a quarter inch foot does help but it's not a must have. i like mine but do watch what I'm doing.

You don't really need a 1/4" foot. You just need to know where the 1/4" seam allowance. You can mark your machine with a piece of tape or something else, including a pen. I do have a 1/4" foot for one machine, but not the other.

I recommend you buy the side guide 1/4" foot. Other methods for adjusting seam allowance work but as a new quilter it will definitely help you. You still must stack the two layers accurately and hold them to go thru your machine. It doesn't guarantte accuracy unless you guide the fabric.

I love the foot with a guide

there is a metal one with 1/4" wide and markings every 1/4 down also, found it in E-bay for $7.50 Includes shipping.

My Viking has a scant 1/4 setting for the needle. I love it. I purchased a 1/4" foot with the guide and it measured larger than 1/4" so just make sure if you do purchase one of these that you are able to return it if you don't like it. My dealer is very nice and took it back no problem. I find that the needle position on my machine is best for me. Prior to having this machine, the old White mechanical machine I had, I used one of the magnetic seam allowance guides. Great tool, imo, if you can use it on your machine. Same principal as using a stack of post-it's; moleskin; index card, etc. but it STICKS on that bed and you can easily re-position it for any type sewing you may be doing.

Here's my suggestion, one I've used for years with amazing success.

Jan in VA

Jans visual is perfect! Good luck with your first quilt!!!