I think the " scant 1/4 inch seam allowance" is just another way to say " make sure your seam allowance is no more than 1/4 inch wide."

There are some that think that if "some" - of whatever - is good, "more" will be better.

I also think that many garment sewers have been accustomed to using 5/8. Inch seam allowances. So that may also be part of the emphasis on the narrower seams. After using wide seams, that 1/4 inch does seem very skimpy.

Examples - not exactly quilt related - maybe will help convey the idea.

My FIL would use a heavy-weight four inch nail when a medium weight three inch nail would have been more than adequate.

"Some" salt added to food enhances the flavor. Too much ruins it.

If a size 12 looks good, a size 16 will look dumpy.

If one aspirin will relieve the pain, three should mske it go away faster and the relief last longer. (Not really - but I do know that is how some people think.)

As has been written many times, the seam allwance width is only part of the process of getting something the expected/wanted size.

Just ran across this on face book. There are 4 videos, but the first 2 are all you need to watch... the others are a commercial for a tool . Hope it helps...

http://www.keepnuinstitchesquilting....nce-4-videos/2

very true,,,,,,,,,,,