Why does my fabric pull away from the machine at the end of a seam?
 

Every time I get to the end of a seam my fabric starts to tail off to the left of my presser foot. Is there something I can do to stop this?

A few things ....

Feed dogs might be dirty - have lint in them.
Too much pressure on the presser foot - there is usually a release button on the top of the machine directly above the presser foot.
Bottom of presser foot dirty

Other than the above, a few things that have alleviated that problem for me ...

1) I almost always use a leader to start each piece, and and ender at the end of each piece. I always stop with the needle down and as soon as one piece is finished I lift the presser foot slightly (just enough to slide fabric under it, but not enough to disengage the tensioner) then continue to sew on to the ender.
2) I switched seam guides. I don't use a 1/4" guide that is attached to the presser foot, I use the type of seam guide that screws down to the base of the machine and can slide in or out to the desired position. I then adjust my needle position for a proper 1/4" finished seam. The seam guide I use has a long "rail" that is a good 2" in front of the presser foot which helps me guide the fabric for the whole length of the fabric.
3) Use your left hand to gently guide the fabric through the machine. If the piece is very small and does not present enough to grab/hold with your fingers - insert a long straight pin leaving the tip of the pin at least 1/2" from the 1/4" seam - now you have a "handle".

I quickly set my machine up with my guide and a smaller piece with pins inserted. Photo below. Hope this helps show what I'm talking about.

Not knowing your machine I can only guess at some things that might be a problem. Is there lint in your feed dogs? When the foot is lowered without any fabric under it, does it look like its sitting evenly? When your feeding the fabric through are you pulling it with your left hand at the end? Try using what's called an ender. When you get to the end of your piecing put a scrap the foot to sew on to.

I just keep the index finger of my left hand on top of the fabric and guide the fabric along to the foot and keep my index finger along the left edge of my foot. Keep this going until the fabric is past the needle.

I sort of do what NJ Quilter does. I also use a stiletto ( or my seam ripper in an emergency) to help guide the last bit of fabric thru. I think sometimes it is the sheer weight of the fabric that you have already sewn. If it is not absolutely straight behind your machine, it will influence that last little bit of the seam, pulling it out of alignment. I can't seem to get into the hang of using leaders and enders, so have learned to compensate with determination!!

You already have some good suggestions. Consider them all and see what might help give you the results you want.
I'll add to DHMom's list .......

4) If you have one of the newer machines with the wider 9mm feed dogs, your fabric may not be getting fed into the machine straight because the foot being used is not fully covering the feed dogs. Ask your dealer about the foot required. For the newer Berninas it would be the 97D

5) Do you have the single hole plate in? If you have the zigzag foot, the fabric has more slippage possible, especially if you have the 9mm feed dogs.

I was tailing off like you. I found I was taking my eye off where the edge of the fabric was as I was coming to the end of the seam. I started making sure I kept the fabric straight all the way to the needle and the problem was solved most of the time.

Then I noticed that when I set my needle in the left position and ran my fabric along the inside edge of my presser foot, my fabric wasn't on both feed dogs all the way. I didn't realize how much slippage this caused. I have Brother machines, and the feed dogs are wider than my old Singer. Now, I am trying something new. I have changed to a foot I can use with the center stitch on my machine and adjusting my needle so that I get a 1/4" seam by letting the material ride along the outside edge of my foot, thus making sure the fabric is connecting with both feed dogs. I'm having to work a bit harder to keep the seam straight but am getting a more consistent pull.

4) If you have one of the newer machines with the wider 9mm feed dogs, your fabric may not be getting fed into the machine straight because the foot being used is not fully covering the feed dogs. Ask your dealer about the foot required. For the newer Berninas it would be the 97D

I agree with QuiltE. If your machine has the option to set the needle over, you will notice that the edge of the fabric is fed directly over the feed dogs. It took me a long time to figure this out. I couldn't understand why anyone would mess with moving the needle or changing the foot just to sew a 1/4 inch seam. With these adjustments, my machine "pulls" in the fabric beginning to end straight and even. Good luck.

I am sorry to say but everyone I know has the same problem. It is not your machine it just happens.

Oh, that's a neat tip, adding the pin to serve as a "handle". I've been messing around with some Drunkard's Path pieces I cut some time ago (while visiting another QB'er!) and even after buying the "Curve Master" foot and using a stiletto I still go off-kilter for that last little quarter-inch or so and it's very frustrating. I am going to try the pin-handle idea and see if that helps!

I make sure I have an ender so that seems to have corrected the problem for me. I really like the seam guide that DogHouseMom has on her machine.

I learned how to prevent this from Bonnie Hunter in one of her workshops. Put your left index finger on the left side of the pressure foot edge as you near the end of the seam. No more veer. It's automatic for me to do this now. Taking classes and workshops from knowledge quilters is so worth it, I learn little tips like this that improve my piecing.

I use a stiletto to the hold fabric straight through the end. This is a common problem.

I tried Onebyone's way and it worked perfectly every time. It's so easy, no fussing or needed tools. Thanks.

The user is the problem..... Mine sometimes goes off to the right, which means that i let go of the right side when coming to the end of the seam- so the last inch of the seam is slightly off to the right, because I still have hold of left. I've done this so many times that I have to make a special effort to keep it straight. I think it is because I'm in a hurry and my right hand is already in position to lift the foot and get the fabric outta there. lol

those pesky feed dogs can be dirty and hard to see. make sure they are clean. then always, always help your fabric along under the foot until it's done sewing. usually with your left fingers on the outside of the foot area. stilettos help too. fabric can pull to the right or left, depending on one's machine. just like your car will go crooked on you if you take your hands off the wheel.

I am taking a class next week and making a quilt called Cleopatra's Fan. The instructions stress that a scant 1/4 inch seam is VERY important. So, I adjusted my needle to a scant 1/4 inch and had a problem starting the seam. For the first time I tried a leader--it worked great. I never thought it was necessary, but now have changed my mind. I have been working on a sample block, and it is harder than it looks. It is a beautiful quilt, and I hope I am able to finish it. Same teacher as the double wedding ring, and I did finish that one after a lot of sweat and tears!!
Sue

I use the leader/ender process suggested and also use a stiletto, you can use a seam ripper for a stiletto if you don't have one.

My machine does that also. I just slow right down then use a pickle fork to help that small piece that is left. LOL check your kitchen you might be surprised what you will find to help.

Some machines do that, others don't. I found my vintage machines are better at pulling the fabric in straight. But then, my 1924 Singer was really pulling the bottom fabric to the right.

If you don't have a stiletto, skip that, you do have a stiletto. Any small dowel will work. I use chopsticks from restaurants. Put it into your pencil sharpener very gently until it has a point as sharp as you like. Not quite sharp to the end is better.

Hold that seam end with the stiletto until the very last thread has exited the needle.

I've found that leaders and enders, small scraps of fabric that you sew onto or off before your quilting piece, has solved a lot of that problem for me. The enders let me sew off the patchwork piece and it gives the pressure foot a place to rest when you're not sewing.

Wow! What a simple correction for a problem I have had for ages. This is much easier for me than using a stiletto (which is what I have been doing). Thanks to Onebyone and Bonnie Hunter :-)

Pam

I have the same problem with my seam being slightly off at the end. I will try putting my finger on the presser foot and see if it helps. This is very frustrating, especially for a beginner trying to learn.

DogHouseMom - where did you get that beautifully long seam guide? I love it.

Marysewfun

NOT DogHM buttttttttt ............... sometimes those guides come with all the bits and pieces with your sewing machine. Otherwise, you should be able to purchase one at most any shop that sells machines.

Thank you, I'll look around. I love that one. :-)

Marysewfun

So glad I read this - looked at my machine and sure enough I had a thread lodged in the teeth. You have all the answers to problems I love our info things.