This is just wonderful, what i get for being a newbie, i didn't even know you could move your needle :):):) I am a happy camper now! :thumbup:

A 1/4" seams allowance should be fine for most projects. The only time a scant would really matter is if you have small piece and have a "gazillion" of them in your project. More important is to use the same sewing machine for the entire project. I haven't figured it out (and probably never will), but 1/4" seam on one machine isn't necessarily 1/4" seam on another, even if you use a 1/4" seam foot. Crazy, but true.

Yes, there are 1/4 inch feet for every make of machine that I own. If you are in a place where you have a machine store or repair shop, they can order one for your machine if they don't have it in stock. If not, Google it. You will find it somewhere on the Internet.

Tasks are so much easier to perform if you have the right tools!

froggyintexas

This makes sense to me! Kind of 'nip it in the bud' idea. Take care of that pesky scant quarter inch BEFORE you ever get to the machine. Bravo!

I agree.

Janome and several other machines make a 1/4 inch foot. They are WONDERFUL. Best 10 or so dollars spent...

I have to agree. As long as I'm consistent, my seams match up, and I don't worry if my finished quilt ends up being 1/2 inch larger or smaller overall. Maybe I'll worry about it more as I improve my quilting skills. Thanks for all the tips here. They give me something to shoot for!

I agree too

i have this same machine, and would like to know this answer, tmw.

I use my 1/4" foot and move the needle one click to the right

That's what I do too...once I started doing that, things line up much better!! But I just have to remember to always do that click to the right...that's the only hard thing!

Yes there is a quarter inch foot for most machines. I prefer the one with a guide blade. Makes it sooo easy!

I don't ever use the "scant" because I don't know the purpose of it. I have always used the 1/4" foot on everything with no problems. What IS the purpose of "scant" and who has such perfect eyesight that they don't wander a thread or two over or under on seams on every quilt anyway?

I do it this way, too. My aunt (and fellow quilter) thinks i'm a fruit loop, but it works for me!

You must be VERY young and have excellent eyesight. It cracked me up. The day I could concentrate on a thread or two is.......well, NEVER!!

I use my 1/4" foot and it works great.

I have a 1/4" foot that I use and when it calls for a scant 1/4" I just move the needle over a bit. I have two Bernina Machines and I have one of these feet for each one. Do a search for your brand of sewing machine. You should be able to find one for it.

I cannot make a consistant scant 1/4 inch seam either without moving my needle one click to the right. I read in a quilting book that they don't recommend that. It is the only way I can get the right measurement though. Why can't the block be made a little big bigger and then squared up? I just hate those scant 1/4 inch seams and try to avoid patterns that call for them.

I have recently started using from Qtools Sewing Edge from Alicia's Attic. It is vinyl and works even better than painter's tape because the fabric butts up against it. It makes sewing scant 1/4 seams really fast! aliciasattic.com

I have the 1/4" foot with the guide blade for both my Bernina and my Janome. What a difference these feet made over using the 1/4" foot without the blade. For my Bernina, it's right on the nose for a scant 1/4", for the Janome the needle must be moved a touch to the right. You just have to know your machine and make use of the tools out there!! Before I got these feet I tried many methods for keeping a uniform 1/4" seam, but these work the best.

On my Janome, I can move the needle to the right even if the foot has a single hole. Be sure to check it by turning the wheel by hand to make sure the needle clears the hole. The hole apparently has a little wiggle room to the left and right of center and the needle can go one or maybe two clicks over and still fit thru the foot.

I do also.

Hi, Go to SewingPartson Line.com, put in your machine model and it will tell you what parts are available. I got my 1/4 in foot there and I love it.Irishd

My old machine doesn't have a 1/4" foot available so I use blue painters tape the same way others use masking tape or mole skin to mark my machine and it works until I can buy a new machine.

Hope this helps...
Andie :-) :-) :-)

The only machine company that makes one that I know of is
Bernina. Its the #37 foot.
I wish Viking made one. Most of the time I just move my needle over. I have the regular zig zag foot and zig zag plate on.

Just finished quilting a Dresden Express on the longarm at my LQS Wednesday. Talked to the shop emp. who is there to help if I run into trouble, about seam allowances causing problems. Not only do I sometimes wander off the 1/4", for various reasons, but it is so important when cutting fabric to have the right placement of the ruler for regular or scant. This goes back to the first post in todays messages, is it good enough for me? Most of the time yes, but when you compile of couple of boo-boo's, it makes a big difference! Boy now I will have to slow down and be more careful.

I find that by sewing my best 1/4 inch seam AND pressing well will give me the right measurement. I use a lot of starch on my strips so they are not so 'wavy' when going under the needle. Also, when I cut, I make sure that the line on the ruler sits fully on my fabric.
If you are consistent, your project should look great regardless. If your giftee doesn't like it, I will love it!

Scant 1/4" is 1/4' inch minus 1 thread width, or so I've been told. It's recommended to allo for the thread being used I guess. I wouldn't worry much about it...as long as all of your seams are consistent, all of your blocks will also be the same size and that's all that counts.

After all, it is YOUR quilt. :P

You need to go to your Viking dealer and check out all the fancy feet. I have a 1/4" foot, a clear 1/4" foot, a clear 1/4" SID foot, and the new interchangeable walking foot with a 1/4". As with all Viking stuff they aren't cheap, but if it helps me to sew more efficiently, it is worth it. I have my DGD's Viking Viva that was about $600 and all my feet fit on it too, along with my Designer I, etc.

I use Aurifil 50 wt thread and my 1/4 inch foot with guide on my Bernina,babylock and Janome and they all come out fine to correct size just don't push fabric against the guide just next to it. the thread makes all the differnce and less linty. one in awhile need to do one click of needle on bernina 1230.

There are universal feet that fit many machines, the main thing is what the shank height is.

C Cal Quilt Girl said:

"Alright call me a rebel, but unless triangles or exact pattern, 1/4 is for the birds (my opinion) and no this isn't to offend, as long as all the seams are straight and the same measurement, I go for something that can be seen normally lands closer to 3/8, don't have to worry about fraying, just gives a little extra room to work with if adjustments need to be made.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I like this approach. Keep it simple !! :thumbup:

I have several Janome sewing machine - all of which use the Janome 1/4 foot. These machines allow me to move the needle position and if I want a scant or very scant 1/4 seam, I move the needle to the right 2 or 3 clicks and it works beautifully.
I have Janome Memory Craft machines 10001 and 11000 as well as Janome 6600 (a TRULY wonderful machine and my favorite of all!) and a Janome Horizon 7700. All allow me to to this 'jog'.

Well getting a true 1/4 inch can depend on alot of things. So here are a few things to think about.

What kind of thread are you using?
What kind of needle are you using?
Do you use a straight stich plate?
What fabric are you working with?

In my case I was having issue with getting a true 1/4 seam, so when I had a gal at my LQS look at it with me, here's what helped me get an accurate (as long as I lone it up to the 1/4 on my stritch plate.) ")

**I'm using Aurafil thread, the properties of Aurafil is alot less hairy and therefore goes through the fabric easier.

**I'm using a Universal 90 needle with 100% cotton Fabric. (With Batik fabrics Sharps are better)

***The straight stitch plate is great because a zip-zag plate can pull the fabic down into the plate at times making your 1/4 seam allowance off at time.

After making those adjustments I've been pretty good about keep a 1/4 seam.

Also....what the heck is a scant 1/4?? Isn't the same as a 1/4?

I've never found one that sews exactly a scant 1/4" seam..you just have to test sew a block to test. I write down what works on each of my machines..

It's the same end result. You sew a scant 1/4" in order to get a true 1/4" taken off the fabric after turn-of-the-fold.

I have a Viking too....a dealer told me to use the knife bladed edge stitcher foot (blade on the side, not centered), set your stitch width at 3.5, and hit the Mirror Image button. It's so easy to guide the piecing along the blade. The 3.5 setting is for "scant" and 3.0 for 1/4 inch. Works great.

I have been checking every quilt shop around for Moleskin? Where did you purchase yours? For now I use a thick double stick pad, but the protective peel, likes to rub off. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Marilyn

good thinking

What difference does it make? As long as your seams are all the same, your blocks will match and your quilt will be okay. I also have the foot(Pfaff) with the blade and love it. It cost $25 and well worth the cost so I don't have to worry about the seams any more. The scant 1/4 inch was started because when you press your seam you lose a couple of threads in the folding process. so some quilter started pushing the "scant". Just use the quarter inch and you will be fine!!!!

Drug stores carry Moleskin in the drug department where Dr Scohls foot products are!