I broke my 1/4 foot (twice!!), and I am wondering if putting a piece of tape on my machine as a guide will work fairly well until I can buy a new foot tomorrow.

I am pretty sure it will, but I would like to hear that from an expert or two. I was going to use painter's tape.

The foot is plastic and the metal "shield" part just popped off and jumped across the room. My husband put it back on, and it worked for a while, but then it just came off again....without the jumping part this time. He is going to "weld" or "solder" or glue or something it back together, but at the moment he is watching a race on tv. I don't want to attempt it myself, as he is the "putter back togetherer" in the family.

But tape will work until the race is over, right?

You should be fine with tape. I have measured on the feet I use the most where the 1/4" is and just use that as my guide if I don't want to put on the 1/4" foot.

Do you have an post it notes? Take a few of those and stick them on the top of your machine at the 1/4" seam line. It will form a kind of fence to guide your fabric against. make sense?

Mole skin would work better if you have any. If not several layers of tape will help. Need to build it up so that the fabric sits up against it. Masking tape or painters tape are thicker and wouldn't need so many layers.

This can be done:

Learn where 1/4 inch seam is in relation to the edge of the presser foot you are using.

We used to sew 5/8 inch seams (more or less) when the edge of the presser foot was about 1/2 an inch away from the edge of the fabric.

In the long run, it's much easier than trying to relay on "props"

Okay, thanks, all good ideas. I have the tape out, but was having trouble figuring out exactly where 1/4 inch was. Measuring on my foot makes much more sense.

In fact, I see some red marks on my foot. Hmmm...nope, doesn't seem to be where the 1/4 inch is.

Okay, again, thanks. I am going to either tape or just mark my foot. Gotta sew, ya know. :)

I have that same 1/4 in foot and I've been afraid that would happen to mine. The one I have is for a Viking and it cost $34.97. That is just crazy!

Painters tape is great. It does not leave a residue on you machine

The tape will work fine. I have an old machine that just doesn't line up with it's quarter inch foot to make a good quarter inch seam, so I measured 1/4 inch from the needle and just drew a line and that works, too.

Painter's tape worked fine, and the race is over, so my husband just fixed my foot....plus my sister just lent me her spare 1/4 foot...so I am all "footed up."

:)

Check out homesew.com. They sell a lot of different feet. When I bought bobbins from them, I called and they could tell me if it would fit my machine or not. I'm sure they could do the same with the feet. And they are a lot cheaper than $35.

To measure a 1/4 inch mark use a 3x5 index card. The space between the lines is a scant 1/4". You probably have a card in your recipe box???

you can use tape or sticky notes

When I need to mark the 1/4 inch seam line on my machine I place my tiny 1 1/2 inch square ruler under the presser foot, moving it to the left until the needle is directly above the 1/4 inch mark. Gently lower the needle to sit on the 1/4 inch mark and place several layers of masking tape along the right hand side of the ruler.

Many machines come with a seam guide. Are you sure you don't have one? It is a metal piece with a slot for a thumb screw, and a bend in the other end to but the fabric against. I use it even with the 1/4 inch foot. I don't like having to clean tape residue off my machine.

Glad ur fixed! Painters tape would of worked!! Didn't know about 3x5 card!!

I have a couple of friends that use post-it notes. Several in a single stack, you place the fabric against the post-it's and you know you are right on, if you have placed the strips correctly.

I have a couple of friends that use post-it notes. Several in a single stack, you place the fabric against the post-it's and you know you are right on, if you have placed the strips correctly.

Sew-Classic has a printed motif that you can put on your machine. I ordered 5 of them, one for each machine and I think they were 45 cents each. They work very nicely on my machines.

There is a special "tape" strip you can buy that you can put on and off the machine. Buy it at your LQS. Measure out 1/4 inch from the actual needle and place it down on the base of the machine. I don't bother with the foot anymore even though I have it.

I've used the blue painter's tape before. Works pretty well and doesn't leave any sticky on your machine.

There was a great idea posted on this board a few days ago. Works great on my older machine. Use a magnetic business card. But, I don't think you should use one on the newer electronic machines. Might mess with their "brains"

I have the 1/4" foot but my fabric always managed to slip a little so I purchased a magnetic guide that butts up against the foot and now the fabric is in line and my seams finally are 1/4" I got it at JoAnns or Hobby Lobby.

Thanks again for the ideas. I have a newer machine and don't want to take chances with the magnetic thing, but it sounds like a good idea for some machines.

I have a Pfaff expression 2 and I am sure there ought to be a mark on here at the 1/4 somewhere, but when I measure all of the marks, none is 1/4 inch. Not to worry, I will buy a new foot today, plus my husband fixed mine and my sister lent me one. I am back in business, for sure!

My new Singer just came with all the plastic gadgets and one all purpase foot. I have to buy the edge/ quilting guide and 9 other optional accessories. Every time I go to buy them they are always out of stock. Will have to go looking for them on the internet.

I did not know this! This is a good piece of information to have.

You can use a regular foot and move the needle over so that you are sewing 1/4 inch from edge of that foot. I have a friend with a Pfaff and she does that even though she has 1/4 inch foot. Says feed dogs get a better grip on fabric that way, more of fabric is actually over the dogs. My machine will not do that as my needle moves are in too large increments. I hope this makes sense.

LOVE this idea for my vintage machines! I agree about not using it around computerized machines though.

uote=supergma]There was a great idea posted on this board a few days ago. Works great on my older machine. Use a magnetic business card. But, I don't think you should use one on the newer electronic machines. Might mess with their "brains"[/quote]

I never use my 1/4" foot, it gets in my way. Tape or mole skin is my favorite

Lets look at the real problem here. You didn't mention the brand of your machine but it sounds like a Viking by the price of the 1/4" foot. That being said also sounds like the machine needs to be checked by a trained technician. The pressure on the foot might be too much. It might cost you a service fee, but cheaper than a new machine.

Do you have a photo of this metal piece?

Use a piece of moleskin, found in the Dr. Scholl's Foot Care supplies in your local pharmacy. Get the thick square pad, cut a slim piece about 1/8" x 1" and lay it on your machine at the correct space. This way your material has a little ridge to lay next to as it passes under the needle at the right spot. Works great.

I do not use a 1/4 inch foot but rather a magnet. Works great I wish I knew how to send the picture

This is the magnet

Using a magnet - a great idea for non-computer machines -

What are the recommendations for computerized machines??

OOPs I really do not know. I will go ask the salesclerk and see what they say. Thanks for the question.

I love my 1/4" foot, but yes, painter's tape will work. I put a stitch gauge under the needle and lower it right on to it so I can figure out exactly where to put the tape. I use a long piece so I don't have to be looking under the needle.

I've noticed with both my machines the 1'4" foot is not included, but I bought them on ebay.

I was told to put "mole skin" (a foot product found at a pharmacy) on the 1/4 " line. It stands up high enough that your fabric won't go over it. Haven't tried yet, but am heading to the store this afternoon to get some. I have had problems with my 1/4" foot too. Thread seems to catch on it all the time, and it also wants to bend out of shape. I'm figuring that a $3 investment at the drug store will be better than a $20 + investment in my 3rd 1/4" foot.

my camera is having a bad day so I can't "picture" mine, but there is a good picture on amazon.com. Theirs is $4.95