Consistency is great too but if you work in a swap for example, the blocks need to be 12.5" - some blocks WILL NOT come out to be that size if you use a regular 1/4" seam, no matter how consistent you are.

Other blocks may lose part of a point if you use regular 1/4" too. There is enough wiggle room to end up with a mess.

That's why I generally make a practice block and measure before committing to a whole layout.

And I don't do swaps that call for scant 1/4" :)

I usually do a scant 1/4" automatically. After each step, I measure to make sure the pieces are the right size and if not I adjust. It keeps the quilt in square so there is less to do at the end.

This is my feeling as well.

I just achieved the 1/4" and I just can't be bothered with a scant 1/4" either. I am confident that if I achieve the scant 1/4" seam, someone will change that as well. If 1/4" is used throughout then what is the point, all seams will be the same.

Even though it generally means that you do a couple of threads under the quarter inch, I think what the designer is trying to tell you is to be very careful/accurate with your piecing. This can be useful if your fabric is a bit thicker than the usual thread count as well.

Me too,1/4 inch is fine with me,I have tried the scant but sometimes forget to set my machine

I just don't like the 1/4 inch seam as some times the fabric will wonder and have to redo it. I use a half inch seam and cut it back to a 1/4 inch or just sew it a half inch and make sure the blocks are the right size.

I'm like you guys. Good gracious, how can you even see "one or two threads"...? sounds like measuring "almost" a pound. Not sure who came up with that but I'm not too crazy about instructions that say "scant" 1/4 inch. We may be "learning" but it still sounds dumb!

You are so right! Why in the world do people want to make what ought to be a joy a pain by introducing one or two threads toward the outer edge? froggyintexas

When I first started quilting I made sure I had an exact 1/4", but depending on the thread I used it wasn't coming out as a 1/4". The thread was a little heavy and therefore the blocks weren't pressing out to what I needed. In learning more as going along I found that using a finer thread and setting the machine needle to just a shy 1/4" was the way to go. Your points are not sewn into the seams etc. After awhile it will become automatic. My personnel preference for thread is aurifil 50wt. makes my piecing so much easier.

Good Luck

Suzy