Have you seen Leah Days quilt piecing ebook/ video??
 

I was looking at her blog and came across this ebook she sells. http://www.daystyledesigns.com/howto...tm#piecequilts It's a 100 page e-book and 2 hours of video.

I seem to have a hard time keeping seam allowances correct, not sure if it's my cutting, my piecing, my 1/4 foot, me not being quite accurate, not enough practice, etc, etc...

I am enrolled in Leah Day's craftsy class, but it's for free motion so nothing really to help with my issues- LOL!

Any video/ class/ You tube/ book suggestions would be appreciated. I seem to learn best by seeing something done. I can't quite learn from a book as well.

Thanks in advance!
Susan

I suggest an idea saw at quilt in aday . Mark where fabric should run for a perfect 1/4 sea, and place a set of post it pad in the correctosition and try. This is cheap and cheerful way. Fabric edge should run level with pad and keep perfect edge. There are other ways but I thought this would be quick to try. The other suggestion is to check the screw holding the foot in place. Mine sometimes works loose.

If you do not have a 1/4" foot with a guide DOTTYMO's suggestion of Post-it pad works great. If the 1/4" foot is an option for your machine it is a very good investment.

There's a book "Precision Piecing" by Sally Collins. She also has a DVD under the same title.
You can check amazon.com.

Love my quarter inch foot with guide. Makes piecing more precise.

Thanks, ladies! I do have a 1/4 foot (guess it's a good thing- LOL).

I'll try the post it note trick on my next piecing. I'm doing the machine quilting for a twin right now so that will take a little while.

Another way to make a guide is to take a roll of blue painters tape and with a sharp knife cut down through the layers a little way. Cut it again about an inch or so away from your first cut. Take the chunk out and line the edge of the painters tape block at 1/4 inch on your machine and stick it on. It makes a "dam" to run your fabric against.

Not all 1/4 inch feet give the quilter's 1/4 inch. To check yours, take 3 strips of fabric 11/2 inches wide and sew them together. The middle strip should measure an exact 1 inch. You might have to adjust where your needle comes down to get what you need. Some quilters do that every time they start for the day and purposely cut the strips to a length they can use in a scrappy quilt

This is a great idea. One of those, "Why didn't I think of that!" Thank you for the proverbial 2 x 4 to the head.

Ditto what DOTTYMO and Joyce888 stated. And just practice with some scraps. If something isn't working right I use scraps to figure it out. I also check out a tutorial in case there's a step I missed.

Be careful and read the instructions for whatever quilt you are making. If the instructions say use a "scant" 1/4" seam, your 1/4" foot may not work. I just had a class with lazer cut pieces, and when the teacher said "scant", she meant "scant"! The points would not line up using my 1/4" foot. I was using my FW, so just had to move the fabric over a thread to make it work.

Great ideas, ladies!! I found some narrow post it notes that I am going to use to help my 1/4 stay a 1/4. I think I'm using more of a "generous" 1/4 inch rather than a scant 1/4 inch!

This is a good idea to do as well as using the tape or Q Tools Sewing Edge to butt your fabric up against, once you've established your 1/4" scant seam line. I found my 1/4" foot wasn't accurate. If you can move your needle from left to right and adjust it tiny amounts, this will help a lot. I use different feet when piecing, so try out and use whatever works for you.

You could stick a piece of graph paper under your machine, find out where the exact 1/4" is and put a piece of masking tape on your machine to use as a guide. Don't forget that not only cutting and sewing but ironing is an important part of the process too. Good luck!