The ever elusive SCANT 1/4" seam
 

I have a brother 1500d and I'm doing an on line course that requires a scant 1/4 inch seam and my foot wont allow it. I'm using my normal foot and moving the needle. I think they should make the patterns to have a proper 1/4 inch seam. It seems to me you would then have a decent seam and everyone could get it right. Scant doesn't give a lot of fsbric in the seam to cater for lots of washing and general use as not every seam is caught in the quilting.

Contrary to popular belief, a quarter inch foot for the Janome won't give you a quarter of an inch unless you move the needle over. You'll have to test and find out exactly where that is for your machine.

Are you making sure that the block is cut to 9 x 9 to begin with? Just sayin'.

There are lots of places where you may be 'losing' fabric - in addition to the seam width

Are you cutting your pieces 'skimpy'?

Are you using thick thread in your seams?

How are you pressing the blocks?

Do a test to see where the problem might be:
1) Cut three strips of fabric 2 x 5 inches long
2) Sew them together with 'your' 1/4 inch seam
3) Press

Measure - the unit should measure 5 x 5 inches - and the center strip should measure 1 inch wide

This will only take you a few minutes to do. If the finished piece is too small, make your seams a tiny bit narrower. Or place your ruler so that you 'include' a bit more fabric in your cut.

Then try it again, to see if it's better the next time.

Are you using templates? Just 'strip cutting'? Using a June Tailor shape cutter? A die cutter?

'Scant' isn't really that big of a deal. If one drew a fine pencil line 'exactly' on the 1/4 inch line - one would stitch on the outside edge (closer to the edge) of the pencil line.


There are a lot of places where things can go awry. I think one reason that some patterns say 'scant 1/4 inch' seams is that the pattern is comparatively finicky.

I think some sewers think of seam width like some people do with medicine - if some is good, more will be better.

I think what bearisgray meant to say is the center strip should measure 1½" (2" minus the two ¼" seams). Keep testing until it does.

It's the same idea as getting your gauge right when knitting. Lots of ways it can be 'off' and lots of ways you can make it right. Find the easiest one for you. And test it again before you start any new quilt to make sure everything fits as it should. Saves a whole lot of time, energy, and frustration.

This is true. Learned the hard way! I have a Janome 6600 and even though I use the 1/4 inch foot, I have to move the needle to 4.5 to get 1/4 inch. As scissor queen says you will have to sew and adjust until you find the "spot".

I have the same machine, you can move the needle more than you think, I use 4.0 for nrrdle position and 2.0 for my stitch length on almost everything, when make an adjustment just turn the wheel with your hand (toward you) so you can see if it will hit or not. are you using the foot with thr flange? it's better than the other.

Why doesn't someone just make a "scant 1/4" foot"? Would save us all a lot of trouble when a pattern calls for it.

Thanks, ghostrider. The center strip should measure 1-1/2 inches.

There's a great 1/4" foot for the Janome that will give you a 1/4" seam, although you should of course test it on your machine. It's the Clearview Quilting foot and guide set and you can order it here: http://brubakerssewing.com/store/ind...guide-set.html or of course get it from your local dealer. Brubaker's is an awesome shop and ships right away and has good prices.

The reason I like this foot is that it is see through and the flange for the 1/4" is removable. If you use the foot without it you line up on the edge for 1/4" seam, and it also has a marking for 1/8" seam. It also includes a stitch in the ditch flange. I no longer have a 6600 (I have a 7700) but I use this foot all the time on my Janome class machine and I love it.

Another option is to use the 1/4" Accufeed foot. You will have to move the needle over considerably. I used to set mine at 5.5, but I know others with the 6600 who had to set it closer to 6.0. You may find it easier to sew with Accufeed and if that's the case then you can measure where your needle should be set and set that as your default setting when you turn the machine on.

There is a wonderful Yahoo group for owners of the 6500/6600/7700 series of machines; very helpful on these types of issues!

Gigi,
I went to the Janome website & they had the answer there & it works BUT it seems more complicated than just doing the 3 strips as bearisgray explained.

Unfortunately, the magic 'scan't 1/4 will vary with the thickness of the fabric and thread you are using, so the manufacturers can't do it for us. If you usually piece with 60 weight thread on quilting cotton then do a project with flannel and 40 weight thread, you will have to move your needle a bit to get the correct seam allowance with the new stuff. I try and remember to do a quick check when I change fabric types.

I had the 6500 and now have the 7700. To get a scant 1/4" seam, I take a lined 3x5 note card. The lines are 1/4" apart. I put the flange of the quilting foot on the line so the left side of the flange is on the left side of a line. Then I move the needle to the right until it is just on the right side of the line immediately to the left of the one the flange is resting on. Once this is set, then I sew the 3-strip test using scraps of the same fabric that I will be using. If it is off, I make adjustments. When it is adjusted the way I need it, I push the needle through the 3x5 card and mark the line that I had the flange on. Doing this, I can move between machines and still get the same seam.

That was my thought. 1/2" is a lot off for one block. I could see it if it was a cumulative amount over many blocks but not just one... I'd check the initial cut size of my pieces.

What an excellent idea, why doesn't someone make the "scant" 1/4 " foot. I finally cut my block pieces a little larger :)

Iron your seams open and see if that makes a difference. It does for me.

How do you determine what exactly a "Scant" 1/4" seam is? I don't think we all have the same one! Kinda like cooking when you need a pinch of salt, my pinch and your probably won't be the same.

Not always a correct statement. On my Janome the needle only moves in one direction...the WRONG one. I had to resort to using tape on the bed of my machine. Sadly that 1/4" foot cost me over $30!

One of the things I dislike about sewing the most is the scant 1/4" seam. It's hard to get a perfect 1/4" every single time, and then to put a scant on top of it...whew!!! I do my best but when they can't even make the foot a correct 1/4" (and I have 3 that aren't), how do we fumble our way around with tape and moving our needles and using our measuring tape to try to get the elusive "scant 1/4"?

This is one of the reasons I returned my janome dc2012. My 1/4" was way off without a ton of fiddling that I didn't want to bother with.

Yup - I set needle position at 6.0 when I use the 1/4" accufeed foot. I guess there is a big difference between the accufeed foot and the regular 1/4" foot - because others previously stated they set their needle position at 4.0 or 4.5 which is a big difference than 6.0.

I would LOVE to have a 1/4" accufeed foot with an adjustable 1/4" guide - that way I can use my guide AND a single hole plate at the same time.

I totally agree. To make things so much easier, just make a scant 1/4" foot. Problem solved. No more guess work! Just do it! ~~Ann~~

Sorry, I can't help you. I'm a hand piecer so I mark all my seams before piecing.

Precisely! However, I do think sometimes the the fabric and thread used affects the finished size. Better still would be an adjustable foot so that the "edge" could be moved to the left of the 1/4" mark giving even an 1/8" seam allowance if required. Wouldn't that be brilliant. Not all machines allow the needle to be moved to the right, mine doesn't.

Yes, this is so. I set mine at 5.8 when I am using the 1/4 in. walking foot. But if you are using the regular foot just move the needle until it is where it needs to be.

I always wondered if you can't get the 1/4 inch right, how can you possibly get the scant 1/4...I use painters take to mark the bed of the machine.

Lynn

On my Janome 6600 I move the width (needle) to 4.1 and it gives me exactly what I need-there is room on my 1/4" foot for this-we have found that Janome in general gives a generous 1/4" which can make for some frustrating sewing!

I do have the accufeed 1/4" foot and I'm going to try that. Going to try the method suggested by bearisgray and let you know how I come out. This is driving me insane-----didn't have far to go, lol

Rather than depending on a 1/4" foot I eyeball the edge of the fabric on the throatplate (is that what it is called?) of my machine......or on the foot that I am using. Sew a sample and watch where the edge goes on the toe of the foot you are using and adjust accordingly. Is this clear as mud?

My blocks always come out to small when I set my machine for 1/4 in. In fact all my machines do not work with a 1/4 in setting. So I set my machines for a smaller seam to get an accurate block.

What good is a 1/4" foot, if you need a scant 1/4"? LOL

There is eoungh room to move you needle over with your 1/4 foot.

This is basically what I do - rather than rant and rail and rave and rage about the foot and the seam allowance - this is SUCH a simple, basic, easy to do solution - although it DOES call for making a sample WITH THE FABRICS AND THREAD YOU PLAN TO USE FOR THE PROJECT- which takes what ? maybe 10 minutes max.

As Holice and others have said - even if one was using EXACTLY the same foot EXACTLY the same way - different fabric and thread weights will work up differently. One size/method does not fit all.

Sometimes one just has to adapt a bit to get the desired results.

Make sure your blocks are large enough before sewing. 1/4 wouldn't make it enough to cause it to be off 1/2 inch. Believe it or not; not all rulers are created equal either. Check the size of your blocks and then also sew a test strip to see what your seams are. Maybe your foot isn't accurate and it if isn't allowing you to move your needle over far enough then you'll have to use a different foot that will.

I did the 3 strip test and it measure 4 1/4". Does the 'scant' mean bigger or smaller? Move the needle to the left for increasing the seam and move it to the right for decreasing the seam? Is this right? Which way should I move the needle?

Just ran into this myself making a D9P. Cut perfect 6" strips; pressed the seams. One of the fabrics shrunk as I touched it with the iron. The bolt said 100% cotton, but the fabric acted more like a blend. It's frustrating, but it's not always your fault.

I believe that "scant" means smaller ... move it to the right so you are decreasing the space between the edge of the fabric and the thread.

Suzy

Assuming the seam edge of your fabric is to the right of the needle - move the needle to the RIGHT to make a narrower seam.

Try it - and make notes to yourself on the samples - so you can remember what you did.