The quarter inch seam is the foundation of quilting. Get it right and everything else falls into place. I promise that it doesn’t have to be perfect, and your accuracy will improve with every block you sew.
Quarter Inch Seam Proficiency: Your Secret Weapon For Better Quilt Blocks
In this article we are looking at how to sew a quarter inch seam, tools you can use to make it easier, what is a scant quarter inch seam, what to do when you get it wrong, and more.
Why is a Quarter Inch Seam Allowance So Important?
The quarter inch seam allowance is important because it is what holds your blocks together. I have seen many photos of quilts that fell apart in the wash because the seam allowance was too narrow.
In addition, if your seam allowance is either larger or smaller, that will multiple across the entire quilt top. You could be constructing a 12” block which could end up at 12 ½” if your seam allowance is too big, or at 11 ½” if your seam allowance is too small.
As you can see, a quarter inch seam is very important, but I don’t want you to get hung up on that too much. Learn how to sew a consistent seam and leave perfection for The Quilt Police (who have no place in quilting in my opinion).
How to Test your Quarter Inch Seam
The quickest way to test your seam is to grab (3) 2 ½” squares. Sew them together with a quarter inch seam and the center square should measure 2” x 2 ½”.
If your end result does not measure 2” x 2 ½”, fret not. If it measures less than 2” x 2 ½”, then you know your quarter inch seam is too big. If it measures more than 2” x 2 ½”, then your quarter inch seam is too small.
Tools That you Can Use to Make it Easier to Sew a Quarter Inch Seam
Magnetic Seam Guide
An inexpensive tool you can use is a magnetic seam guide. Magnetic seam guides click onto the bed of your machine close to your presser foot. You run the right side of your fabric next to the guide and sew a perfect quarter inch seam. Make sure to keep an eye on your fabric since it is very easy to run your fabric up the side of the seam guide which will result in a larger than quarter inch seam.
Washi Tape/MaskingTape
Another tool you can use is Washi Tape or Masking Tape to mark the quarter inch on your machine bed (like the magnetic seam guide). You can easily mark a quarter of an inch from your needle with a piece of Washi Tape. The best part is that Washi Tape is easily removed and does not leave residue on your machine bed.
Quarter Inch Presser Feet
There are two types of quarter inch presser feet, a plain foot and a foot that has a guide running along the right hand side.
My preference is a plain quarter inch foot because, just like with the magnetic seam guide, using a quarter inch foot with guide can result in the fabric riding up the guide and creating a larger than quarter inch seam.
Other “Tools”
If you are new to quilting, you may find that your seams at the beginning and the end are not quite a quarter of an inch. It is not uncommon to scoot in when starting and ending seams. I have been quilting for 22 years and still do this sometimes. An easy fix for this problem is to use a leader and/or ender to sew your blocks. A leader/ender is a small piece of scrap fabric that you can sew onto and off of placed next to the piece you are sewing. It makes it easier to maintain a quarter inch seam since you are starting the seam on the leader and sewing onto your piece.
Let’s Talk About Scant Quarter Inch Seams
This is an often debated subject in quilting. Those who demand perfection sew with a scant quarter inch seam.
What exactly is a scant quarter inch seam then? The actual definition is one thread width smaller than a regular quarter inch seam. Seriously, that’s it.
Do I think it’s worth stressing over? I don’t. In my 22 years of quilting, I have never used a scant quarter inch seam.
In order to sew with a scant quarter inch seam, you need to move your needle over one position to the right. Unfortunately, not all sewing machines can do this. If your machine can, will you remember to do it every time you turn on your sewing machine?
Quite honestly, the only quilt pattern I have found that really requires a scant quarter inch seam (otherwise the pattern will not turn out right) is the Deco Quilt Pattern by Lo & Behold Stitchery. Since there are so many strips and so many joins, the scant quarter inch seam ensures the quilt goes together correctly.
Patterns like the 3 Yard Quilt series that ask beginner quilters to sew with a scant quarter inch seam is setting people up for failure, in my opinion.
Progress over Perfection
Your first quilt blocks will not be perfect and that’s ok. Quilting has a lot of technical skills that you will build as you continue quilting and take on new projects and techniques.
As a result, I want you to focus on proficiency rather than perfection. Perfection leads to second guessing and seam ripping.
My Final Thoughts
I hope you found value in Quarter Inch Seam Proficiency: Your Secret Weapon For Better Quilt Blocks. Use whatever tools work best for you and get sewing.
One Last Thing
Is getting started quilting on your to do list, but you don’t own a sewing machine yet? Let me help you.
In my new Your First Sewing Machine Checklist you will find what you need, what you can skip, what can wait for later and 4 beginner-friendly machine recommendations.
Click here to get yours today.
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