1/4" seams, why & how? Please help!
08-06-2013, 05:03 PM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: AR/NM
Posts: 358
there is a great foot out there for most sewing machines. It is a 1/4 inch foot with a guide. This is a piece of metal that your fabric goes up against and voila you have a quarter inch seam but check your needle position first and make sure it is centered so that you have a quarter inch seam. Measure to be sure.
You cannot do this with a seam guide that is attached to the throat plate.
Last edited by GrammieJan; 08-06-2013 at 05:12 PM.
08-06-2013, 05:12 PM
#42
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Southeast Georgia
Posts: 2,526
The masking tape works, but you might want to try a quarter inch foot, as well. I've found that to be my lifesaver. As others have said, make sure you shorten your stitch length and you shouldn't have any problem with the seams coming out. Good luck!
08-07-2013, 04:31 AM
#43
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
IF your machine is not computerized, I really like these magnetic seam guides. I put it next to the presser foot but sticking out more towards me than even with it. It really helps. Plus, it is important you keep your eye on the material as it feeds into the presser foot rather than watch the needle.
08-07-2013, 04:33 AM
#44
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
Hi Maggieloe,
Australia commenced moving to the metric system in the late 60s. Now I'm only new to sewing and quilting, but so far everything I come across in sewing in Australia - even quilting rulers made in Australia - still use the imperial system. Often fabric will show both metric and imperial with the latter being the most prominent.
It's interesting how imperial still rules the sewing world as the US (I'm not criticising your country!
) must be close to the last country in the world not to have gone metric. (According to a Google search only the US, Liberia, Burma and the UK still use imperial although the UK is an Imperial-Metric society where metric is slowly becoming the norm.)
Here endeth the lesson.
Australia commenced moving to the metric system in the late 60s. Now I'm only new to sewing and quilting, but so far everything I come across in sewing in Australia - even quilting rulers made in Australia - still use the imperial system. Often fabric will show both metric and imperial with the latter being the most prominent.
It's interesting how imperial still rules the sewing world as the US (I'm not criticising your country!
) must be close to the last country in the world not to have gone metric. (According to a Google search only the US, Liberia, Burma and the UK still use imperial although the UK is an Imperial-Metric society where metric is slowly becoming the norm.)Here endeth the lesson.
08-07-2013, 01:35 PM
#48
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tyler, Texas
Posts: 14
I'm using the 100% cotton "quilting fabric" from Hancock's & other such stores. I think it was my stitch length & that my 1st "1/4 inch" was actually about 5/8 & my 2nd "1/4 inch" was about 1/8 and too close to the edge. I think I've finally got this thing figured out!
I'm also checking this 1/4 inch each time I sit down to sew now just in case my magnetic guide gets bumped or my needle position gets switched or something.
I'm also checking this 1/4 inch each time I sit down to sew now just in case my magnetic guide gets bumped or my needle position gets switched or something.
Last edited by ema521; 08-07-2013 at 01:38 PM. Reason: Add to it
08-07-2013, 04:50 PM
#50
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Pleasant Hill MO
Posts: 1,669
All good advice... When you are just learning it is hard to understand why the 1/4" is so important.. The seam should not be pulling out. I agree you should shorten your stitch length, usually 10 or 12 stitches per in. Practice is the key. And there are lots of free web sites where you can go for excellent help. Utube has lots of great ones.
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