The larger seam allowances for clothing ( 5/8" ) were to help with the fabric pulling loose at the seam when under stress. For quilts, the 1/4" seam allowance is plenty for one main reason - since the three layers are all quilted together all over the quilt, the individual pieces or layers are not under any stress from pulling. When you pull on the edge of a quilt, you pull all three layers at the same time. I've been sewing clothes since I was 9 years old (learned for 4-H) and I know how hard it is to get the 1/4" seam burned into your brain. Practice is your best friend when making quilts - use scraps and make lots of little things like potholders, dog beds, and such. Your 1/4" seams will get much better, as will your piecing and quilting. Then when you make something to show off, you can be assured that you did it right!

Getting free he foot for your machine would help you a lot. Wouldn't be without mine for anything

All great advice, practice and it will start to come naturally. At first it seemed like such a small seam after being used to garment construction, but now it just seems like the norm to me.

Without more information, it is difficult to know what you mean by the 'seam is pulling out'? Do you mean that the stitiches are pulling out at the end of a seam? It could be either your stitch length as mentioned previously or it could be your tension.

To test the tension, sew a seam and leave a thread tail long enough to grasp with your fingers. Try pulling on ONE of the threads - top or bottom. If the thread easily pulls out, then you need to adjust your tension.

Ema, listen to these ladies. They are very knowledgeable and will help you. If you do what they say and practice, you will become very good at this. I'm not trying to be bossy, but I know how hard it is to get a 1/4 inch seam.

Can you clarify? What is the foot you're talking about?

I know many, if not most, will not agree with me, BUT since you are a beginner, it is consistency that counts the most. You are probably using patterns and designs that are not too complex. Pick a seam allowance, for example width of the sewing foot on tour machine, and stick with it. If all your seams are consistent, your pieces should fit just fine. As you get more experienced, you will get to the elusive 1/4" seam. Up until recently, I had a machine on which 1/4" seam was impossible due to the position of the feed dogs, and I still made some awesome quilts including Bargellos. Good luck!

IF your machine is not computerized, I really like these magnetic seam guides. I put it next to the presser foot but sticking out more towards me than even with it. It really helps. Plus, it is important you keep your eye on the material as it feeds into the presser foot rather than watch the needle.

Only true if she's doing squares. For example, if she did a simple rail fence block and used the original dimensions to cut, the blocks would not turn out square because of using different seam allowances. Anything more complicated (even if it's still a very simple block) would not go together correctly without using the seam allowance that is considered in the instructions. Now if she knew the finished dimensions of each part of a block and then added the 1" to use a 1/2" seam allowance, that would work. However, that doesn't seem like something a beginner would want to tackle.

I'm a total beginner at using a sewing machine let alone quilting, however, I came across this advice a week or three ago and it's made a huge difference to my accuracy.