How to Piece Better
09-13-2014, 05:02 AM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Truly in the middle of a forest
Posts: 238
Originally Posted by toverly
I second this, a friend pointed out how thin the "quilting pins with the glass heads" and how they don't take as much of a bite out of the fabric. It sure helps.
and that, along with "setting the seam" when I press has made a huge difference in my piecing.
09-13-2014, 06:48 AM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,877
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Sometimes the problem is somewhere else than the seam width.
Are you cutting the pieces "scant" - "close enough" - or "generous"?
Do the cutting and sewing test to see what You need to do to get the finished size to be about what you expected it to be.
(When I say "approximate" - it's pretty close to what is expected. I worked with engineers who worked with thousandths of an inch tolerances. For some things now - that tolerance is a miss by a mile!)
One can't get "exactly" because of the nature of the materials and tools we are using.
P.S. The "test"
Cut three strips 2 x 5 inches
Sew them together with your version of a 1/4 inch seam
Press the unit like you usually press units
Measure the center strip - it "should" be 1-1/2 inches wide
If it is wider or narrower, make the appropriate adjustments - which can be in either the cutting width or seam width. The unit size "should" end up being 5 x 5 inches.
P.P.S. The whole idea of a "scant" 1/4 inch really annoys me. Say 7/32 or 15/64 if that's what is really wanted. "A couple of threads" is just as vague to me - depending on the fabric I'm using, that can vary quite a bit, too.
Are you cutting the pieces "scant" - "close enough" - or "generous"?
Do the cutting and sewing test to see what You need to do to get the finished size to be about what you expected it to be.
(When I say "approximate" - it's pretty close to what is expected. I worked with engineers who worked with thousandths of an inch tolerances. For some things now - that tolerance is a miss by a mile!)
One can't get "exactly" because of the nature of the materials and tools we are using.
P.S. The "test"
Cut three strips 2 x 5 inches
Sew them together with your version of a 1/4 inch seam
Press the unit like you usually press units
Measure the center strip - it "should" be 1-1/2 inches wide
If it is wider or narrower, make the appropriate adjustments - which can be in either the cutting width or seam width. The unit size "should" end up being 5 x 5 inches.
P.P.S. The whole idea of a "scant" 1/4 inch really annoys me. Say 7/32 or 15/64 if that's what is really wanted. "A couple of threads" is just as vague to me - depending on the fabric I'm using, that can vary quite a bit, too.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 07-23-2018 at 03:38 AM.
09-13-2014, 08:13 AM
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
This may sound silly to some of you, but I did not pin as I pieced for years, until someone said it improved their accuracy when they started to do so. I figured "ok, I will try it". Amazing the difference it made. I did spend some time learning how others used their pins to see how best to do it. It always strikes me how much I don't know about modern methods because I was taught to sew by a woman (grandma) who learned to sew during the depression. The best thing I learned from watching videos is that if you put any excess fabric between the pins, on the bottom when you sew it, the feed dogs will help ease in any fullness as you sew. At first I thought that having to cut thread, then flip the fabric was silly, then I tried it. Most of my seams match pretty close now, with no tucks. I might even try working with half squares again now that I can make them more even, maybe.
09-13-2014, 08:23 AM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: AR/NM
Posts: 358
I like to use starch when cutting AND sewing bias or other less-than-straight edges, such as half square triangles. Also when the two cut edges you want to seam together are slightly different lengths, I pin the two pieces together at each end making sure they are even..put the slightly longer side next to the feed dogs and it comes out even. Sometimes I just tug a little bit on the shorter piece if it is only a little bit off. I find that pressing seams will make them come out looking good, as well.
09-13-2014, 09:34 AM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Jackson, Georgia
Posts: 611
I have found that spray starch shrinks my fabric and not evenly. I guess I will need to try the liquid starch Before I cut and see if that helps. I know starching sure makes a cleaner cut. I'm just going to have to kick my cutting up a notch.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 07-23-2018 at 03:39 AM. Reason: shouting
09-15-2014, 01:54 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 428
I have experienced the same and it has and is my goal to sew an accurate 1/4 in seam. I took on a log cabin and had a lot of trouble. I discovered with the help of my teacher that I had a number of corrections to make:
cutting.. .......measure your cuts and you will see if they are "off"- adjust
pinning.. ......use thin thin pins and pin
seam guide.. with blue painters tape - I drifted toward the right with the end of the seam- or adjust your foot
to create a 1/4 in seam along the edge of the presser foot if your machine allows
measure ......measure your seams after sewing.. catch the wonky seam before you proceed
patience.......a little sewing goes a long way with correcting..
Taking my time and measuring and measuring as I sew the seam has made a HUGE difference and so far has made
a nice looking block.
Hope this help and best wishes
I haven't tried the starch method..
cutting.. .......measure your cuts and you will see if they are "off"- adjust
pinning.. ......use thin thin pins and pin
seam guide.. with blue painters tape - I drifted toward the right with the end of the seam- or adjust your foot
to create a 1/4 in seam along the edge of the presser foot if your machine allows
measure ......measure your seams after sewing.. catch the wonky seam before you proceed
patience.......a little sewing goes a long way with correcting..
Taking my time and measuring and measuring as I sew the seam has made a HUGE difference and so far has made
a nice looking block.
Hope this help and best wishes
I haven't tried the starch method..
09-24-2014, 05:33 PM
#40
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 26
I have read each of your responses very carefully so I can catch what I am doing incorrectly to cause my piecing to be a bit wonky and not fit as I would like it to. I think I need to be much more careful with that 1/4 inch seam, although I thought I was, use the same foot and ruler throughout. I find the Bernina 1/4 inch foot doesn't give me the best 1/4 seam--any body else find that true? I will try the blue painter's tape--have a long seam guide, but find that there's just a little bow in my machine insert and the fabric goes under it just a bit--not accurate.
So I will continue to try to get that perfect seam--it should not be hard, but I find that it is. Thank you All so much for your kind comments and help!
So I will continue to try to get that perfect seam--it should not be hard, but I find that it is. Thank you All so much for your kind comments and help!
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 07-23-2018 at 03:40 AM. Reason: shouting
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