Well this is funny in a way, I've made two quilts one by hand stitching and another by machine.
Now here's the problem , I start out with a straight 1/4 of an inch seam line but when I get towards the bottom...........oops off it goes.
So does anyone have any hints as to how to keep it on the straight and narrow?
I've tried drawing the lines , eyeballing and even the masking tape, I don't do it all the time but it sure is becoming most of the time :(

I know this has been mentioned before, but it helps me to use a wooden skewer to hold the remaining fabric together as I'm near the end of sewing a straight seam.

They also make really pointy tweezers for just this purpose. Some people buy a tool (that can get pricy) called a Stiletto, it is used in the same manner that Renee has said she uses the wooden skewer. I would opt for the skewer. lol If my kids got ahold of it I would only be out a few cents instead of 20-30 bucks! Normally however I just feed it along until the last possible second before my fingers get sucked into the needle. So far so good. One of these days it will get me though. I am sure of it. lol

I hope I can explain this right... LOL :) I put a pin in the fabric parallel to the seam line far enough away from the stitching so I don't have to take it out until I have sewn to the end. For some reason, this helps me keep that 1/4" all the way to the end. Before that, I used to run off too.

Sew onto an ender, that will stop the veer. Start with a leader and end with an ender.

Learn all about leaders and enders here:

http://www.quiltville.com/leadersenders.shtml

And slow down!

your fabric must be guided all the way past the needle. i keep my left hand on the fabric as it goes under the needle. the feed dogs will tend to pull it to the left or right if you let it. stilleto works too.

Hey thanks! I always use a leader but didn't realize an ender helped with the end of the seam. I love this board and all you guys with these little tips!
dd

We all learn from each other !!
Love CoriAD's suggestion!

I bought a stiletto and only cost about 4.95. I didn't realize they could cost 20.00-30.00 bucks. Mine is plastic.