Using marked plastic templates over anything else
 

Well, I know most quilters will say, oh my goodness, this takes too long. But the only way I can get perfect points, perfect straight lines, perfect 1/4 inch seam allowances is to use the plastic templates with dots in the corner that I can mark on my fabric. When I sew dot to dot on my fabric, I am a happy camper. I have taken online quilting courses. I have the new Stripology ruler too. I have also a 1/4 inch quilting foot. I have a strip of masking tape also to follow a 1/4 inch seam allowance on my sewing machine. Nothing works, except dot to dot for me. I have recently gone back to Diana Leone's book, "The New Sampler Quilt " from 1997. It uses dot to dot. I have wasted so much money on the things that I mentioned above as I threw out so many ruined quilting blocks! I am only using dot to dot now. Is anyone else like me and only uses dot to dot templates?

How does sewing dot to dot keep the seam allowances within the tolerances required? I don't understand! Isn't it still possible to "wander" between joining the dots?

I think Onestrokeartist is describing how we mark dots when hand piecing. But she's sewing by machine. I had never thought of doing it that way, but I could see how it would be quite accurate.

I am happy, that I bought that new Bernina 475 with the 5.5mm feeddogs! My seams are straight and my flying geese are going together so much easier than when I was trying to piece on my new 9mm feed dog Bernina. Wow, I am a happy camper. The 5.5 mm machines feeds that pieces so much straighter than the 9mm machine. If you look at those 9mm machines, the fight feed dog may be too far to the right to fully catch the fabric when doing a 1/4 inch seam. I don't know about the dot to dot method, just that straight stitch or at least 5mm machines piece a lot easier that 9mm ones. At least the one's I have tried.

I've never heard of the templates, or the process of doing it that way.

We all do things our own way. If this is what works for you, then that's great. My thoughts are, it doesn't matter what process you use to get to the finish line. It's the fun of getting there.

Exactly! And I draw a line to connect the dots as per Diana Leone in her book, machine piecing, method 2.

So sorry I did not mention before. I draw a line between the dots as per Diana Leone in order to do the machine piecing, method 2 in her book.

I can't afford a new machine but I am happy that you are happy with your 1/4 inch seams on your new machine!

Exactly, thank you for your comment!

When I was making my GFG quilt using 2 inch hexagons I drew the lines. I didn't use the templates to mark the lines, I have a small 1/4 inch ruler - it worked like a charm. Also, I used a quilting pencil. Tried the pen where the ink disappears in 20 minutes, well let us just say you can't draw too many lines in advance before it disappears. As long as the seams are consistent I no longer worry about the perfect 1/4 inch. But I also have my Accuquilt cutters to keep the shapes consistent. Also, piecing in the appropriate order makes a difference too.
You have to do what works for you. And we need to share what we do so someone that is struggling may find a solution.