Presser feet - 1/4" guide?
 

Again, I apologize if this is a known and thoroughly discussed topic.

I have a Pfaff machine which is the only thing I have pieced on before. To that machine I have a 1/4" seam guide foot. It's excellent. I get a perfect seam allowance with no effort. The good thing is that with the integrated dual feed I have the guide and the upper feed at the same time.

Now I got a Juki TL-2010Qi. I got it for FMQ mostly because I don't want to put my Pfaff through that kind of use. My Pfaff doubles as an embroidery machine and also does great decorative stitches.

I like the Juki so much I want to piece on it as well. I got a huge number of presser feet but not one with a 1/4" seam guide. Looking at Juki's selection of feet, there isn't one. Neither have I found a generic one with a high shank either.

I did buy a magnetic seam guide which I think will do the trick, perhaps not as perfect as the presser foot.

My question to you is;
1. How do you get the scant 1/4" seam allowance?
2. Do you use a walking foot when piecing?

I don't know anything about Jukis but there seems to be a lot of high shank 1/4 foot with guide on ebay. For example:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-4in-Hig...item2586984866

I don't know it doesn't mention your model but I've found that's not necessarily indicative of it not fitting it.

I have the following rulers excellent for scant 1/4 inch seams:

The Westalee gauge:

http://www.punchwithjudy.com.au/shop...eam-gauge.html

and

the Ezy seam helper

http://www.amazon.com/Seam-Helper-Sc...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

A lot of people on the board use either a block of Post-Its or Command Strips positioned on their footplate to give an exact 1/4" or scant 1/4" and then simply run their fabric against the block - voilà - perfect seams!

Not sure if you have Command Strips - they're not very common here, but Staples carries them as do some DIY chains. Even with postage, you'd probably be cheaper from eBay US. The good thing about them is that they're removable and won't damage your machine.

I bought a Juki TL98P (the only model available here) a few months ago. It comes with what is described as a 'compensating foot' which is in fact a quarter inch foot. It might be a good idea to double check your box of goodies that came with your machine. I also bought a 3/16" 'compensating foot' on Ebay for the Juki which might also be useful if you really want a scant, scant quarter inch!

This is the foot that I bought for my Juki TL2010...love it!!! I had gotten mine on ebay, but it is the same model number. Shop around. The prices vary quite a bit.

http://www.amazon.com/Janome-Seam-Fo.../dp/B003AJQSPO

I must have searched really badly because when I looked at ebay I couldn't find one. But there's one! Thanks!

Actullay my Juki is an import (and it's actually the 2010Q not -Qi). I don't think it is available in Europe.

I did notice that the compensating foot was close to 1/4". I haven't tried piecing with it though. Have you? I guess I have to try! Thanks!

Thanks! Shipping wasn't too bad! I need some sort of guide, I can't sew that accurate without assistance.

I've never heard of command strips but I'll look into it! I'll see how my magnetic seam guide works first. If it is sufficient I might stay with that. Got lots of good ideas and suggestions here as usual!

Command Strips can be bought at Walmart and noticed that they were also in my local JAF. FYI. I use painter's tape instead of post a notes.

I have a Juki TL2010Q and have recently started using the compensating foot. My seams have never been so accurate. It does give a true 1/4" seam but then I cut my pieces a tad bit larger. That way when I sew two pieces together they come out to the correct measurement. I've been thinking about buying the Juki 1/4" foot with the guide (http://www.raichert.com/azsewingstore/p-JTLF2.htm) but haven't done so. Has anyone tried this foot? I did get an offbrand one, but the needle didn't go through the center of the hole which made getting an accurate seam a bit frustrating.

i do believe that the machine does come with a 1/4" guide. i had the previous model and did not notice it for the longest time. did you check on your manual's parts list... it may be pictured there. i agree, the juki is a great piecing machine.

I did notice that the compensating foot was close to 1/4". I haven't tried piecing with it though. Have you? I guess I have to try! Thanks![/QUOTE]

Yes I have and mine is an exact ¼" so I can adjust slightly for a scant seam and am happy with the result. I think we are misled by the term 'compensating foot'.

I have have that foot and it works great. Piecing is wonderful on the 2010Q but mine is now on a Grace Frame.

Mine comes on and off the frame... frequently. :o

I'll try the compensating foot!

Strips of moleskin (Walgreen) works for me

http://www.quiltdesignnw.com/QtrInchSeam.htm
A downloadable 1/4" seam guide in PDF

That's excellent. I'll definitely try that as soon as my machine comes off the frame (is that of or off, I'm voting for off?).

Let's just hope that my printer is as accurate as the machine. I'm also going to try the Fons & Porter method:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzliXPyWmbk

Re the magnetic seam guide I have read that you should not use on a machine that has electronics. Just FYI. I sure wish I could find one that works well on my Pfaff. Have tried post it notes,command strips, tape etc but still can't get a scant quarter inch because I can't get close enough to the feed dogs with the quarter inch foot on it. Still trying. The one on Nancys Notions has been unavailable since way before Christmas! If you have another idea please post!

I think you're right. I wouldn't use the magnetic seam guide on my pfaff (it's the only electronic machine I have).

But with regards to a 1/4" on a pfaff; doesn't this foot fit?
http://www.pfaffusa.com/2703.html

Hmm... that wasn't much information. Well, the Swedish Pfaff-site was actually much better:

http://www.pfaff.com/se/5433_8388.html

I use this foot on my Pfaff and I so love it!

I just found this same presser foot on ebay for $14.00, which was a little over $4.00 less than the one on Amazon. I also have a TL2010Q and just ordered it. Thanks for the tip and info!!!

I was not completely satisfied with the compensating presser foot. It's not a scant 1/4", which means that the seam itself actually eats away on the allowance making the finished piece just a little too small. If I only did squares it would be ok. But I'm not doing squares at the moment...

I put my needle down and measure out from it with a metal 6in. ruler. Mark on the needle plate and put tape or post it notes. 2 or 3 layers of tape works good.

My Juki 2010Q came with a 1/4" foot but no right guide , so I just bought one on eBay with the guide and it works great. Guess I do a belt and suspenders approach as I also bought a separate seam guide that looks like a T-bar and it screws on the front plate that I but up against the right side of the pressure foot guide. This gives me a full two inches of a hard surface to guide the fabric through evenly.

I have a Pfaff with the snap on 1/4" foot with edge guide and love it. It is a scant 1/4 inch foot. I also have a Juki TL2010Q. It is a high shank machine. I have an older Pfaff that is high shank too. In order to use the snap on feet for the older machine, I got an adapter for snap on feet. I screw the adapter on my older machine and then can use the snap on feet from the newer pfaff including the 1/4" foot with edge guide.. Since as I mentioned the Juki is high shank, I tried the adapter on it, so I could use the 1/4" foot and it works beautifully. I now have a scant 1/4" for my Juki. I have tried some of the high shank 1/4" feet with edge guides that can be ordered online and they are a true 1/4 ", not a scant 1/4'.

Here is the adaptor. It is rather pricey, but I got mine several years ago, and it wasn't that much.

http://www.amazon.com/Snap-on-High-S.../dp/B002F01TR6

For those who don't have a scant 1/4" foot, this tool is very helpful for marking the scant 1/4" line for post it notes, or tape.
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...+seam+guide.do

That would be just excellent! I do love my Pfaff 1/4" foot! I couldn't have managed the wedding ring quilt without it!

I use a quarter inch foot I bought that has a guard on it. Bernina #57. It is a real help. As far as using the walking foot for piecing, no I only use it for when the fabric layers are too heavy to slide under the foot easily. The foot is intended to feed the fabric evenly both top and bottom which allows matching up plaids or prints perfectly.

On the other hand I do use it for straight or stitching in the ditch quilting. It works great for that.