Which Do You Perfer - Quarter Inch or Scant?
 

I've always been fascinated by the quarter inch scant seam. I understand why it can be useful at times, but for me, I'd rather cut a scant larger and use the full quarter inch seam when possible. I see a lot of quilt patterns that use the scant quarter inch seam when cutting a scant bit bigger would allow a full quarter inch seam. I lack the understanding as to why other than to save a scant bit of fabric. Which do you prefer and why?

The scant quarter inch seam is to allow the seam (when pressed) to set down to fit better and not overlap the sewn seam to add bulk. I don't know if you get what I am saying. I sometimes don't express what I mean very well.
You might try sewing some blocks up both ways into a block and see the difference for yourself. On some busy designs it would make a huge difference eliminating that bulk.
Quilting is all about expression of creativity so seamstress choice, I suppose.

The reason a scant 1/4 inch is used is because there is fabric width "lost" to the seam itself - just a few threads' width, but enough to make a size difference after the seam is sewn. A scant 1/4" allows the finished piecing to match the desired dimensions. If a full 1/4 inch seam were to be made, the overall blocks would be smaller, so all pieces would have to be sized up some tiny amount in order for the finished sub-units and blocks to be the desired size.

Think about 10 2x2 squares - you start with 2 1/2 inch squares, seam them in a row using a scant 1/4", and get a finished strip that's 20 1/2 inches long. That's easy to join to another 20 1/2 inch solid piece of fabric.

Now take those same squares and sew them with a full 1/4" seam. The finished strip might only be 20 1/8" to 20 1/4". Now you go to join to the solid piece of fabric that's 20 1/2 inch and guess what? There's a size mismatch.

So what's a pattern designer to do? They'd have to calculate all the different cut sizes, which are going to be weird measurements, not even increments of 1/4, 1/2, 1 inch, etc. You're always going to have that slight loss of width to each seam, so rather than work with weird cut measurements it's easy to compensate for the loss by adjusting the seam width.

Here's a link to a page that shows the width loss Scant 1/4" seam

And here's another with photographs that show the issue

I prefer a solid quarter seam for making the blocks. The way some, if not all fabric frays on the raw edges, I don't want my quilt to come apart with the daily stress or washings if a scant seam is used. I've never had any issues with the 'pattern' not lining up or going together right for the final look when using the solid quarter inch seam.

I think some pattern makers overthink sometimes. Remember when patterns ask you to cut pieces for a block with 1/8" measurements. I've seen some with cut this piece 4 and 7/8", this piece 3 and 1/8" etc. (some still do). Now it is mostly about sewing a 'scant' quarter inch seam.... What's next, that pattern designers want you to sew a 1/8" seam? How about just glue the raw edges end to end....

Enjoy the process, and don't sweat the small stuff, or you'll take the fun out of a wonderful hobby. If you want to do the 'scant' quarter inch seam - feel free to do so. I don't and won't. I want my quilts to hold up to being used and repeat washings when needed, not fall apart at the 'scant' seams. My quilts are homemade, not production line made for a store 'blanket' quilt. I kind of feel that if you are trying to make a 'perfect' to perfection quilt, then the fun and enjoyment is getting lost somewhere in the translation..

I totally agree with you. I quilt for my own pleasure and most of my final products are nice and I am pleased with them. Funny enough any quilts I have given, the recipient always notices the colors and not if anything is perfectly matched or even the quilting. No one has ever said "look at how you quilted that". They just don't notice. Other quilters do and judges in a show but I don't show mine.

Another thought is that with some designs, an exact 2" square (or others pieces) may be a tad larger or smaller than is required to fit in the design. Hence the odd cutting or seam allowances. It's a real pain, and I prefer to cut larger and trim down to size.

I think we as quilters fall into different immutable camps when it comes to deciding to use the scant 1/4" seam. I have had conversations in the past and have come to the conclusion that I'll never convince some who think the seams aren't secure if a scant seam is used that they actually are. It's only a couple of threads difference but it does make a difference in accuracy.

I don't really understand the thought process that says you can't enjoy the hobby if you care about accuracy. I am one that can't enjoy it if seams don't match and points are cut off. Within reason I want things to go together properly and I don't find it fun and enjoyable when they don't. That's me. Others are less picky and are just fine with the results they get and that's great because it's their project and they get to decide how to create it and what results they find acceptable.

In the end it's up to each one of us to do what works for us and not judge others because they have found a way to enjoy their craft that doesn't align with our way.

To answer the OP...try both and see what works for you.

I don't care what it's called, for me it's the seam allowance that allows the blocks to come put perfect. sew big and cut down or press and stretch until it's big enough doesn't work for me. And you never measure the seam, you measure the block.

To check:
This is one of many examples of using three strips to check to see if you will get close to the expected size

You need to scroll down a bit to get to it

https://villarosaquilts.com/2022/08/...eam-allowance/


Actually, most of us can only get an approximation of any "exact" measurement due to the measuring tools we have and what we are measuring.

When I am cutting a "2.5 inch strip" with my rotary cutter - it's actually a bit wider than that due to the way I lay my ruler on the fabric and the distance between the edge of my ruler and the rotary cutter.

I think that the reason some pattern writers say "scant 1/4 inch" is so that it is no more than 1/4 inch.

The three strip test method - using the fabric and thread that one is intending to use - is worth the time and effort.

I love the quarter inch guide on my Pfaff Passport and use it all the time. Sometimes I have to adjust the size of blocks but that has not been a problem. Eg., I am doing a double Irish chain quilt. It is 5 blocks across and 5 down so when joining them I have 6 seams and then the alternate block only has 4 seams. I lost 1/4 inch from the first blocks because of the extra seams and the pressing so I’ve had to adjust the alternate blocks accordingly. Not a big deal as I love the accuracy with the 1/4” guide.

[QUOTE=bearisgray;8708471]To check:

You need to scroll down a bit to get to it

https://villarosaquilts.com/2022/08/...eam-allowance/


Thanks for the article Bearisgray. I think it summed up the best - "to find YOUR very best 1/4″ seam allowance and stick with it. Your pieces will still fit together as long as you’re consistent."

I would actually prefer a scant size larger than the 1/4" seam allowance, but I sew with the quarter inch foot on my machines and make do.

Plus there is the issue of measurement. Are you using the inside, outside or middle of the line on the ruler. I'm not good enough to feed my material under the needle perfectly straight. There always seems to be even a tiny bit of waver where I lost my focus or went too fast or blinked. This tiny bit of movement affects the depth of the seam allowance so I just do the best I can and most of my stuff matches up quite well. I'm careful but not fussy.

It depends on the pattern. If I need to have things a certain size, I use what gets me that size. It's often a scant 1/4" that seems to make things come out right. Otherwise, I use a full quarter. I use a quarter inch foot on my machines but have found that I can easily adapt to a scant quarter inch if I need it just by lining my fabric up a bit under the edge of the foot.

I rarely use scant unless pattern calls for it like bulky seams. Other than that consistency is more important

Most of my quilt pieces are cut using the Accuquilt and they are cut to use exact 1/4" inch for all the points to be pointy and all the pieces to fit. I rarely have to square up. The Juki TL machines come with a scant 1/4" foot and I use that and get an exact 1/4" seam. I don't question why; it works so that's what I use. Every machine foot is different when it comes to 1/4". Aggravating.

I find that the only way most blocks fit perfectly for me is with a scant 1/4" seam. My Janome has a 1/4" foot with the metal guide, but I need to move my needle two clicks to the right to get the scant seam allowance. I once made a quilt of blocks that required three different settings to get the pieces to fit with all points intact. Each block contained 43 pieces. That was a nightmare, but the quilt was lovely once I had the system figured out.

Years ago I watched a quilters show that had a little lady as a guest. She did not believe in quilt police and she said whether you use a 1/4" seam or a scant one, just be consistent. That's what I do and it seems to work for me. I use a 1/4" because it is easier to see on my machine.

quilters show that had a little lady as a guest.

That little lady quilter was probably Jean Ray Laury. She was a breath of fresh air in the quilt police world of having to follow the rules.