oldtnquiltinglady

I, too, don't have a problem with eyeballing my 1/4" seams when I am piecing a quilt--just sew a trial seam, measure it, go back and re-sew watching where the presser foot is as I sew, and I am good to go. I did see one of those "attach it to the bed of your sewing machine" thingys when I went down to Tenn TOGA a few weeks ago, and was amazed, but haven't gone through my junk drawers in my sewing room yet to find one. Maybe later on today, if I ever make myself get up from here and get to work.

Ellietow

I bought a "screw into the machine" seam guide a year ago - and I don't like it - because I have to unscrew it if I want to do a different size seam, then have to measure to screw it in correctly again. I'm going to try a 1/4" foot next.

misseva

I use the magnetic seam guide and measure like Joe does. I too, can't sew a straight seam and I have no physical problems to blame it on - just can't. Does that make me 'direction-ally challenged'? I can, however make wonderful curv-y seams.

Mariah

I really like the guide that screws to the bed of the machine; always seems very accurate. Mariah

Jeanette Frantz

I guess I'm pretty good at estimating distances, etc. My husband was a cabinetmaker and had his own shop for many years. I sometimes worked with him in the shop in the evenings after I got off my full-time job. I got pretty good at estimating measurements, and it's carried over into my sewing/quilting! So, I have been very blessed! Also, my FW has the lines all marked, and I can follow the lines to keep straight on a regular quilt-block seam. That helps keep things straight. For that matter, my 403 needle plate and slide plate also has the lines marked. It just takes a lot of practice and "doing it" -- anything you want to accomplish, you can -- you just have to practice by doing the task to learn!

Jeanette

Aurora

I use painter's tape. EASY TO PUT DOWN, EASY TO REMOVE, LEAVES NO RECIDUE ON THE MACHINE BED. Also, it can be repositioned easily to change the seam width. It isn't expensive and has multiple uses. It is a staple in my sewing bag.

oldtnquiltinglady

I have a couple of rolls of painter's tape out in my sewing room, kept there just for the purpose of the quilting lessons that I give periodically. I teach the student how to measure and place it, then show them that it doesn't leave a mess behind as part of my lessons. I also stress the "needle up, hold thread behind the presser foot" thing, but I don't know how well that goes into their learning processes. I have a cousin that I have showed this process to at least a dozen times, and she still screws up her FW every time she uses it. And this process was taught to us by the same home ec teacher back in the fifties. I just shake my head, roll my eyes, and show her again.

linda faye

I have a screw onto machine seam guide. Check Nova Montgomery.com She is great to do business with and will have the seam guide out to you right away.

Good luck.

solstice3

I have used a guide and also painters tape. I prefer the tape