Yes, definitely. Early on my quilting addiction (yes, I said addiction - but what a way to go!!) my friend and I made a Storm at Sea quilt to be raffled by my church. I was to put all the blocks together and thee was a distinct difference and I had problems with puckering, etc. After that if I worked on a quilt, I pieced it, people could help me cut, but only one person could make the quilt top - that worked out so much better and much less frustrating. It's something that you will only do once. The quilt did make quite a bit of money for the church, which was nice, but after that I insisted on putting the blocks/piecestogether.

I have sewn on several machines from the same manufacturer (different models) and have found that each machine has it's own quirks. Usually, most machines that are the same models are very similar. If you have a habit of sewing pins, warping the blade on your 1/4 inch foot, etc. all bets are off.

With my Pfaff, I prefer to use a 1/4 inch foot that has the blade on the left side for piecing (I have the one without the blade for paperpiecing). If you are wanting an accurate 1/4 seam you need to check your personal machine, foot AND how you sit at the machine. The easiest way is to cut two 3 1/2 x 6 1/2" inch pieces of fabric and stitch them together along the 6 1/2" length. Press. You should end up with a 6 1/2 square. If you don't you need to move your needle (right or left depends on final results).

My foot with the blade in the center is what most quilters call a "stitch in the ditch" foot (I actually use a knit edge foot because the blade is a little shorter and I like that better). I don't use it for piecing. I have been known to use it for applique and paperpiecing. It is also a great foot for topstitching in case you ever want to do anything like that.

the older the machine, the harder to get a TRUE 1/4"...remember clothes are sewn with a 5/8" seam....

I learned that the hard way too! I also learned the importance of measuring the seam and moving the needle when needed for a "precise" 1/4". Learned these lessons while making my king-sized Radiant Star. Found it out when I was putting the star points together and my seams did not meet up! I redid the points to corrent them, but it is a lesson I will never forget!

I learned how important consistance in quilting by my own experiences. Same foot, same machine. I don't know why there should be a difference but there is.

Yes, I was putting together a banner for the church, pieced most of it on my Janome at home. Had 2 more squares to add and sewed those at my sewing class on my featherweight. My mother, (who takes the class with me) advised me to finish piecing it on my Janome, but I was impatient and wanted to get it done... 1/4 " is 1/4" right? Not so!! I ended up taking it out and redoing them. When am I going to learn...my mother is a very smart woman! lol!

And there is a slight difference between ruler manufactures.

Would you explain the 3 strips test? I would appreciate it. Thank you, Ginny

I learned in my first quilt class- one quilt, one machine. I will follow the one ruler rule now too.

Yes you have to use same machine an foot