best tool to find 1/4 inch seam?
 

I've been messing around with this and finally decided to ask the experts. Is there a tool that will show you a perfect 1/4 in seam? Someone suggested using the lines on an index card, which is a great idea. I put tape down, but every time I have to change my bobbin I have to start all over again. (Darn top-loading bobbins!). The 1/4 inch foot that I purchased especially for my machine is not 1/4 inch, I had purchased a guide that you put on your machine, but I can't use that either because it goes over the plate for the bobbin.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Okay, this is down and dirty and it works for me. I took a piece of cardboard 4 " x 8", marked exactly 1/4" on the edged of the 8" side all the way down the cardboard and gently put it under my needle with the point right on the 1/4" mark from the edge. Then I took blue painter's tape (could use the green, either one works) and put it gently on my sewing machine exactly next to the cardboard with the needle right my 1/4" line. Remove the cardboard. Now, I have a perfect 1/4 inch from the point of the needle to the edge of the tape. If I have to take it off (and I do because my bobbin has to be changed and that little plastic piece has to come up), I can put it right back on the bed in exactly the right place. I had to do this because every time I turn off my machine, it defaults to the left and then I have to center it again and again and again. Hope this helps.

With a top loading bobbin I'm not sure any of the typical solutions would not have to be moved. Can you draw a line with a permanent marker on the bed of your machine? You'd have to be careful about the edge of the line depending on how thick a marker you used.

Instead of a "guide" can you purchase a throat plate with quarter inch marks? If you use the tape method, you could cut the tape on both sides of the bobbin cover so that when you remove it, the tape stays on the cover. On occasion when I've wanted the marks to extend to the edge of the machine's bed, I've taken a soft leaded pencil and made little marks along the quarter inch line right on the machine bed. My machine is quite shiny and smooth and the marks come off easily, so it is a short term technique.

I line my presser foot up with the edge of the fabric and move my needle (left or right) until I get my perfect 1/4" or scant 1/4" seam. Works great. If you can't move your needle it's kind of a moot point though.

That is brilliant!

I think finding the 1/4 inch seam is a bit like learning how to drive in the proper lane. Or how to park. One just learns where to 'aim'

I used an index card (or graph paper) and lined that up to see where the 'edge' should be in relation to the presser foot I am using. It may be that you line up your fabric exactly with the edge - it may stick out 1/16 of an inch to the right of the presser foot - it may be that the presser foot 'covers' the edge by 1/32 of an inch.

It's much easier to learn 'where' your 1/4 inch is than to rely on a crutch that has to be replaced all the time.

Bonnie Hunter sells her seam guide at her classes for $3. She doesn't mail them though. Walmart has them in the red colored plastic. I think by Dritz.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/--GC4n9zh_XA/UT...5B5%25255D.jpg

Here is a picture of how she handles the top loading bobbin seam guide.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3hmC4FGGbts/UC...5B9%25255D.jpg

I have a 1/4" foot for my machine....LOVE it!

I use a quarter inch foot and move the needle a tad to the right to get a scant quarter-inch seam. I also have a top loading bobbin so the tape deal didn't work too well, but a thin line drawn with a permanent marker sure does. And I think that after hundreds of seams you sort of learn where to aim, as someone else said. Good luck!!

I have heard that you can stick a tiny pad of Post It's. It is raised so provides an excellent thing to "line up" your fabric against. The next time you need it, tear off the bottom one and re-stick. Of course this is AFTER you know where it should be.

http://www.quiltdesignnw.com/quiltin...t-patterns.htm
Printable guide here, scroll down some and print thr 1/4"Seam Allowance Guide

if placing a guide on your machine bed is not an option- or a pain due to having to remove it all the time why not just draw it on with a sharpie? or nail polish- something that will last, not rub off on your fabric- and not have to be removed? since each machine is different it is hard to say there is a specific tool to use- each person has their own 'need'. one of my machines I used an index card- lined up with the needle- then drew a straight line with a fine tip sharpie- then when it had time to dry I coated the line with clear nail polish- the line has lasted a few years now. I too was tired of having to remove my guide every time I needed to change the bobbin. after years of practice/use I have found my 1/4" and just know exactly where to line up- regardless of which foot i'm using- but that one little old machine still has it's mark on it- when one of the kids are over wanting to sew they like to use that one. :)

This is what I do too. However, I'm so stupid I just figured that my machine was geared for that all by itself. No wonder I could never get a good 1/4"!

Thank you Tartan!!!!!!!

I use tape and have a drop in bobbin which has a clear plastic cover. I used a fine point sharpie to draw lines on the underside. I actually have 2 lines - one for 1/4" and one for "center of the needle" for doing diagonals. (no need to mark them!)

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I'm going to use the Bonnie Hunter idea on my Janome Gem! Better than purchasing another foot for my granddaughter to use!

Thank you so much for all the great ideas! It would be so nice if my 1/4 foot actually worked...but, I think I'm going to try the marker. I'm anxious to do this!!

I have a 1/4" foot with a fence. Invaluable!

I put an omnigrid ruler under the pressure foot and SLOWLY lower the needle just to touch one of the lines. Then I mark 1/4" away with a sharpie. If you want to really be precise, you have to take into account the width of the thread. If you use Connecting threads thread, you will have to have the sew, be a bit larger than if you use John Flynn's So Fine. When you fold the seam over to press it, the bigger thread takes up more space than the thinner thread. Again, though, it depends on precise you need/want/care to be.

I was going to mention Bonne - she also sells a little acrylic template for $3 at her workshops...it's a little ruler with holes in it, you drop your needle in the 1/4" hole and it shows you a true 1/4". I'm not sure if it's available on her site or not but I love mine!!!

I use the 1/4" foot with the metal edge that came with the "Quilter's Companion Set" of my Janome. I've never actually measured to see if it's absolutely accurate but, in my experience, if you carefully use the same foot in all the piecing of your top it will fit together at the intersecting seams and the points. If I took part in a round robin quilt I expect I would have to be more precise but so far I never have. As I only quilt for pleasure I don't want any extra hassle. The 1/4" foot (with edge) is fine for me.

Yipes.....checking the width of thread...I'm going crazy. I always ask "If I can't get a 1/4 inch, how do you expect me to get a scant (2 threads?)? I am doing better with a stack of painters tape.

Lynn

One of my machines has the 1/4-inch setting, but you have to select that position. By default this machine always centers the needle and I had forgotten (yeah, I know!) about the needle right feature.... At the very least, I now check for the feature on whichever machine I am using. Good Luck :-)

For crying out loud! Buy a 1/4 inch presser foot and use that. It will be a lot more accurate than anything else you can do. You can find them on-line. Amazon probably has them. froggyintexas

I have a 1/4 inch foot for my Janome. It isn't exactly 1/4 inch. I found out it wasn't exact when I made a circle quilt. Luckily I figured it out early in the project. I can move my needle position a couple of clicks to make it exact. I now check it from time to time and it hasn't changed. I am taking my machine in for a tune up tomorrow and will check it again when I get it back. Can you move your needle to make a perfect 1/4 inch with your foot?

I bought the 'PREP TOOL' from Guidelines 4 Quilting. It gives you a 'scant' 1/4" seam. You place it down under your foot and bring your needle down flush with the left side of the tool. Then you lay a Seam Guide on the right side of the tool. Then raise the foot and pick up the tool and put it back in its plastic bag. I've had mine for a few years and it's in perfect condition.

They also sell 'Seam Guides' that don't leave sticky residue that you place next to the 'PREP TOOL'. The 'PREP TOOL' can be used for many things besides being a 'scant' 14" seam guide. It also has a lifetime replacement guarantee. The 'PREP TOOL' is on sale for $10.76 and comes with an 8 page booklet. You don't need the booklet. It's self explanatory. The Guidelines 6 pack seam guides are $2.99. I love this tool and these seam guides. It's all I use.

I got the Perfect Piecing Seam Guide from Perkins Dry Goods and the Q-tools purple vinyl sewing guides. Whenever I got mine, they came together in the same package, but it seems like they are sold separately on Amazon now. Instant perfection.
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I have 2 seam gauges--one is red and the other is yellow. I purchased the yellow one from Nancy's Notions http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...+seam+guide.do this was recommended by one of the Craftsy class teachers. The red one comes with a strip to put on the machine--it is called Quilter's Gauge by Dritz. I do not remember where I ordered this from.

I just Googled Sewing Machine seam guide and found where to order several of these. Then, I happened across some in Wal-Mart for about $1. I bought a bunch to share with friends.

If you are just making quilts for yourself then you don't have to worry if 1/4" is exact. As long as you do them all alike it will work out in the end. If you are doing blocks to trade then you will have to make sure it is 1/4". I used tape and credit card like Bonnie Hunter suggests and I have top load bobbin. I have to remove and replace to put in bobbin but I have to check each time to make sure I put it back exactly right.

Reading all these posts brings up a question. If your 1/4 inch seams are a few threads more or less wider or narrower, than a 1/4 what difference would it make so long as you keeping using the same seam allowance throughout your project? I mean I understand if it was 1/3 of an inch of more. Just wondering if anyone else had this thought?

I have a top drop-in bobbin and I use a piece of tape, cut so the bobbin cover can be removed. It doesn't last as long as if you have a different type bobbin, though, because the edge of the tape comes unstuck.

Have a Baby Lock Quilters Choice........the feed dogs are actually larger than any of the feet and the 1/4" mark goes right through them. Don't know about other machines...is this the standard? The 1/4" marking in the back is not visible as it sits right smack in the middle of the rear of any of my feet. And from the back of the throat plate to the edge of the rear machine bed there is less than a 1/4". My needle can only move to the left or right with no variations in between. If I use the 1/4" foot it only has one small hole which can only be used with the needle in the right hand position and since the machine defaults to the left when switched on I frequently forget and break my needles. Does anyone else have these problems and how did you solve it?

I would recommend a 1/4" foot but a GOOD one, something like this http://www.amazon.com/Distinctive-Qu.../dp/B003QCOYFG which has the edge guide. Also you don't say what machine you have and whether you have a needle position feature on it, that can make one heck of a difference making life so much easier :) Hope you find something that works for you soon as I know it can be so frustrating.

From ABOUT QUILTING.COM Here is a very good way to check to see that you are actually sewing a 1/4" seam: Test Your Seam Allowance

Let's set up your sewing machine to sew an exact quarter inch seam, the standard seam allowance used for quilts. Once you've mastered a quarter inch seam, your blocks will have units with sharp points and crisp corners, and they'll go together easily when it's time to assemble the block or quilt.
Some patterns will tell you to sew a 'scant quarter inch seam allowance.' When you see the term used, make the seam allowance about a pencil-line's width narrower than 1/4" (a scant seam is sometimes necessary for patches to fit together just right, see page 5). Be sure to brush up on your rotary cutting skills and learn important pressing techniques before you begin.
Materials to Test Seam Allowances

• Rotary cutter, mat and 24-inch rotary ruler
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine with a quarter-inch presser foot; use the standard foot if you do not have a quarter-inch foot
• 2 light fabric strips, each 2" x 4"
• 1 dark fabric strip, 2" x 4" [h=3]Let's Test the Seam Allowance[/h]
  1. Install a quarter-inch or standard presser foot on your sewing machine. If using a standard presser foot, try to determine which vertical groove on the machine's throat plate is equal to a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Align a a 2" x 4" light strip with a 2" x 4" dark strip, right sides together and edges carefully matched.
  3. Sew the patches together lengthwise, feeding them through the machine with the 1/4" presser foot's right edge aligned exactly with the right edge of the patches. For a standard foot, align edges with the mark for 1/4".
  4. Sew another light strip to the opposite edge of the dark strip.
  5. Press seams allowances toward the dark strip.
  6. Use a rotary ruler to measure the dark center strip. It should be exactly 1-1/2" wide along its entire length. The outer strips should be exactly 1-3/4" wide along their entire lengths.
  If the dimensions of your pieced unit are accurate -- congratulations! You're ready to sew a quilt.

At one of Bonnie Hunters classes I asked her about the quarter inch foot. She said she has one but ripped the little metal piece off of it as it wasn't accurate.

Lynn

I perfected my 1/4" seam by doing the Eleanor Burns sewing "test" . Even with a quarter inch foot, I still needed to move my needle to the right to get that perfect seam. I wrote the needle position n my machine so as not to forget the setting. My blocks improved greatly by doing this test. It should be on her website.

sandy

I just use the edge of a sticky note. The sticky part is 1/4". No big deal to me if I have change it. You can always purchase foot with the 1/4" guide also.