How long did it take you to conquer 1/4" seams?
04-03-2011, 10:40 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 661
Hi Dene,
Can you tell us what kind of sewing machine and foot that you're using? Can you provide a picture? Are you able to move your needle left and right? If you can that is a great help. It helps to consider sewing a scant 1/4 inch all the time. It really helps to have a 1/4 inch foot with the flange on it, worth every penny of it's cost.
You said you're not getting consistancy, have you asked yourself why? What are you doing different from piece to piece? Are you sewing too fast? Are you holding the fabric differently from one time to the next?
How are you preparing your fabric? Do you wash and iron it each time? Do you use sizing, starch or the new product Best Press? Do you sew and then press your seams before going onto the next? Do you set the sewn seam line before you open and press? Are you being consistent with every step from each time to the next?
However, I found with my 1/4 inch foot that I still needed to move my needle to help get the scant 1/4 sewing line so that my seams ended up being 1/4 inch.
I also have found a plastic open toe foot that has marking lines on it. I sewed sample seam lines until I knew exactly where to put my fabric edge and where the needle had to be to get the scant 1/4 inch. This foot was also worth every penny of it's cost. I like the open toe as you can see where the needle is going down into the fabric as you sew.
As someone else mentioned I have marked my sewing lines on some pieces depending on the pattern.
Pam M
Can you tell us what kind of sewing machine and foot that you're using? Can you provide a picture? Are you able to move your needle left and right? If you can that is a great help. It helps to consider sewing a scant 1/4 inch all the time. It really helps to have a 1/4 inch foot with the flange on it, worth every penny of it's cost.
You said you're not getting consistancy, have you asked yourself why? What are you doing different from piece to piece? Are you sewing too fast? Are you holding the fabric differently from one time to the next?
How are you preparing your fabric? Do you wash and iron it each time? Do you use sizing, starch or the new product Best Press? Do you sew and then press your seams before going onto the next? Do you set the sewn seam line before you open and press? Are you being consistent with every step from each time to the next?
However, I found with my 1/4 inch foot that I still needed to move my needle to help get the scant 1/4 sewing line so that my seams ended up being 1/4 inch.
I also have found a plastic open toe foot that has marking lines on it. I sewed sample seam lines until I knew exactly where to put my fabric edge and where the needle had to be to get the scant 1/4 inch. This foot was also worth every penny of it's cost. I like the open toe as you can see where the needle is going down into the fabric as you sew.
As someone else mentioned I have marked my sewing lines on some pieces depending on the pattern.
Pam M
04-03-2011, 10:43 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 661
Originally Posted by Kat Sews
My 1/4 inch seams have been good ever since I spent the money (less than a good cutting mat) to buy a seam guage to go with my 1/4 inch foot.
With a good seam gauge you can always figure out where the needle needs to be to get the scant 1/4 inch seam line. Helps to use a discount coupon for the purchase.
Pam M
04-03-2011, 11:25 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
The other thing to remember is that thread and fabric affect the seam. I know where my scant 1/4" inch usually is, but I always sew a trial block and sometimes I have to make an adjustment because the thread/fabric combo throws it off. so you need to verify at the beginning of each project. Cut three 2" strips, about 4-6" long as accurately as you can. Sew them togther and press. The center strip should be exactly 1.5".
04-03-2011, 11:55 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,467
Originally Posted by MTS
I just wrote this yesterday to someone else who was having a similar problem.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-112724-1.htm#2925138
You might very well be sewing a perfect 1/4" seam. But it you're still coming up too short (or too long/wide), then your problem is either in the cutting or in the pressing.
And a 1/16th off in the cutting, not pressing the seam properly here and there.... then you sew a couple of subunits together and your block is short 1/4". Not a big surprise.
Those other steps are just as important as the sewing. And that's not quilt police propaganda. ;-)
As I did in the thread link, if you can get your hands on "The Art of Machine Piecing" by Sally Collins, it will explain in nauseating detail the how/what/where things go wrong, and how to prevent it.
It's really just checking, checking, and checking at each step of the way.
Notions - post-its, 1/4" feet, block books - they're not a panacea for understanding the construction.
And then, after you understand the how/why/where, you can totally forget Sally's perfectionist ways and go make art quilts. ;-)
Try to find the book. Really. ;-)
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-112724-1.htm#2925138
You might very well be sewing a perfect 1/4" seam. But it you're still coming up too short (or too long/wide), then your problem is either in the cutting or in the pressing.
And a 1/16th off in the cutting, not pressing the seam properly here and there.... then you sew a couple of subunits together and your block is short 1/4". Not a big surprise.
Those other steps are just as important as the sewing. And that's not quilt police propaganda. ;-)
As I did in the thread link, if you can get your hands on "The Art of Machine Piecing" by Sally Collins, it will explain in nauseating detail the how/what/where things go wrong, and how to prevent it.
It's really just checking, checking, and checking at each step of the way.
Notions - post-its, 1/4" feet, block books - they're not a panacea for understanding the construction.
And then, after you understand the how/why/where, you can totally forget Sally's perfectionist ways and go make art quilts. ;-)
Try to find the book. Really. ;-)
I'm slowing down, being very careful with the cutting, sewing and pressing. Things are better but not perfect. Practice, practice, practice.
04-03-2011, 12:59 PM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: La Grande, OR
Posts: 2,457
Originally Posted by DeneK
Thanks for all the great tips. I did just get a 1/4" foot with a flange. I have a new (to me) older Husqvarna Viking 400. I will practice with some scraps and see how well I can do.
04-03-2011, 01:01 PM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 1,545
Unfortunately it's "practise, practise, practise". I've tried beating them into submission, but couldn't win :).
You could use some blue painters tape on your machine or the stickem pads, so you'll have something to lodge the edge up against.
Don't sweat it, you'll get there.
You could use some blue painters tape on your machine or the stickem pads, so you'll have something to lodge the edge up against.
Don't sweat it, you'll get there.
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