I have been frustrated to death with trying to achieve the perfect 1/4 in seam, the 1/4 foot I have does not help at all so I finally decided to play with all the stitches on my machine and pull out the manual. Well they have a stitch marked Q that positions the needle with the regular foot for a perfect 1/4 in seam; after running several scrap pieces it indeed does exactly that; I could have saved myself lots of frustration if I just sat down and actually read the manual. And yes when I got the machine I did sit down and stitch every one that was on it; I just never paid any attention. When my new baby arrives today I will certainly sit down and make a cheat sheet, laminate it and keep it with me every time I sit down at it!!!

What make and model of machine do you have? That is very useful information that others may not be aware of either.

A while back I bought a Brother machine at Wally World it was marked down to 109.00 a Brother CE8080PRW with 80 stitches and about 6 made specifically for quilting. When I bought it, I had no idea I would get the quilting bug, it was more for crafts, clothes for the grand-kids etc..... .

Here's a nice visual if you're still in search of the elusive scant seam allowance:
http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2011/...t-14-inch.html

The quilting bug was hiding in the box, just waiting to jump out and bite you, but only after you got the machine home.

:lol:

rotflol

hmmmm, i have a different brother from wally world. i haven't tried all of the stitches, either. guess i'd better sit down and try.

Wow thank you sew much for that!! I will definitely try that one, I have the 1/4 in down on my brother, now I will try to achieve the scant on my new Janome that I have been playing with for the last 2 hrs.......

I can understand that. My husband is going to be gone for a few days hunting and I am going to get my books out and "learn" to use my machine better. ")

Shhh!!! Don't say that too loudly. Its usually men that don't read instructions!

I have a Janome 6260 that has a default needle position that goes to 3.5 every time the machine is turned on. I finally figured out (after a long frustrating year) that for what ever reason I have to have it on 4.5 to sew a 1/4 inch seam. I hadn't read the manual and had no idea of a default setting. I thought I was the one with a "default" for not being able to sew the 1/4 inch seam!

I have a Janome 6600 and the dealer game me a note reminding me to set mine at 5.4 to get the 1/4 inch and that is what I do. If I feel its not quite scant enough I move it to 5.5.

I use 5.5 or 5.4 with my 1/4 inch walking foot and 3.8-4.0 for my regular 1/4 foot. You can set those as memories in your 1-4 stitch positions.

I have found that when I cut my my Accuquilt Go I have to skinny up my stitch. Seems I cut on the outside of the line when I rotary cut and the Go must go to the in or just a smidgeon inside the line.

Yeah brothers and babylocks, alot of them are like that where one of the straight stitches gives you the perfect 1/4 inch. On my babylock it is the first stitch that is preset so I often forget to change the stitch on my brother to the correct one and end up hitting the presser foot