A Surprising Comparrison...

I have two quarter inch feet... One is an Alphasew, which has no flange, and the other is a flanged foot, made for my machune.

I just made a bunch of rail fence blocks, using my Alphasew, which was a tuft.... The blocks had Dix stations, snd measured out still 12.5in. unfinished...

I needed be more row, so made another stripset of Dix, udiny the flanged quarter inch foot. The result should have been the as me... They were not.

The flanged foot gave me a block that measured 11.5in.. What?

I am including pictures.

So... I thunk the Alphasew quarter inch foot gives me a good scant quarter inch seam, and will be using it from now on....

That is a big difference. I know I have to watch carefully when using my guided foot so I don't "force" the fabric against the runner. Hope you can get it to work for you without too much trouble.

Sandy, I ran into a similar issue - I used four different machines when sewing my offset coin quilt - strip sets of batik fabric. I got ready to square things up and found definite variations in the blocks.

Guess that's why not all size 9 shoes fit my feet . . .

On Jill, the quarter inch foot is way over that measurement. I used it once and it was 3/8" or more when putting the fabric against the flange. I now use the regular foot and the markings on the machine and throat plate and I have consistent 1/4" seams now. The foot, which appears identical in looks, that I use on my old machine, which is a Singer, gives me a perfect 1/4" seam. Matter of fact, that foot is a Babylock foot as Singer did not make one when I was looking!!

My mom and I have the same machine (Janome MC6500) and she uses 1/4 inch guide foot and has a much wider seam than I do without using the guide foot. My seams are scant, her's are a bit over.

Really doesn't work out well when we work on a project together!

wow! and wow for the pretty fabrics!

Sandy, that is why there is the old saying What ever machine you start a project with finish with it.
For they are all different
All have a Happy New Year

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

Sandy, I ran into a similar issue - I used four different machines when sewing my offset coin quilt - strip sets of batik fabric. I got ready to square things up and found definite variations in the blocks.

Guess that's why not all size 9 shoes fit my feet . . .

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Sandy,

I keep telling you not all size 9 shoes fit you because you are a 10! LOL

Can you change your needle position to make your seam more accurate? I do that to give me a scant 1/4" seam.

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Originally Posted by BobW

Sandy,

I keep telling you not all size 9 shoes fit you because you are a 10! LOL

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Yeah boB is back.

On my machine when I use the flange foot there is a setting where you are supposed to measure from the needle to the flange and move the needle to adjust to make sure it is 1/4 inch. Also, if I use thicker cotton thread instead of the polycoated cotton which is thinner it does change my 1/4 by a scant.

Interesting results thanks for posting that picture. A picture is worth a thousand words!

Yeah, 1/4" isn't 1/4" everywhere. That's why I sew a project on one machine and don't switch.

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Originally Posted by BobW

Sandy,

I keep telling you not all size 9 shoes fit you because you are a 10! LOL

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You guys are so funny!

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Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

Can you change your needle position to make your seam more accurate? I do that to give me a scant 1/4" seam.

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I 'm not sure.... Got to chevk my manual...

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Originally Posted by Amy R

wow! and wow for the pretty fabrics!

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The fabrics are Swirls... Love 'em....

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Originally Posted by snippet

Yeah, 1/4" isn't 1/4" everywhere. That's why I sew a project on one machine and don't switch.

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Well, I did use the same mavhines but switched feet.... Never again!

On using those 1/4 inch feet, some machines don't allow you to move the itty bitty bit over because of the center hole. Just be sure to handwheel down the first couple of stitches after you adjust it to see if it will work. Otherwise you can break a needle or part of the sewing machine.

Thank you for the pictures. It is amazing the difference just a little bit one way or the other of a 1/4 inch can make.

Sandy- Are you narrow or Medium? that could be the issue!

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Originally Posted by IBake

Sandy- Are you narrow or Medium? that could be the issue!

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What do you mean?

I guess the lesson here is to sew all your blocks with the same foot.

I have the Babylock Espire and the 1/4" foot with flange is in constant battle with the feed dogs. I tried sewing jelly roll strips together and the seam was wonky all the way down. Had to rip it out. Now I use a regular piecing foot and if I need a guide, I just use a command strip on my machine. I also use a small clear acrylic ruler and measure the edge of the presser foot and adjust the needle to where it hits just to the right of the 1/4" mark on the ruler.

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Originally Posted by easyquilts

What do you mean?

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I think she's talking about shoe size to Sandy Navas. :D :icon_wave:

I have the Viking quilting foot with the guide - I didn't care for it because I found myself wanting to push the fabric up to the guide, which gave me too big of a bite. I've been using my plain old 'A' foot that came with my machine and I set the needle to the quilt setting. I've gotten pretty good at getting the fabric right along the edge of the foot and I like it better - my seams are more accurate now. I think the guide is good for some, just wasn't working for me!
Your fabric is gorgeous!

I got the same result with a flanged foot on a Brother PQ1500. I had also installed a piece of tape on the 1/4" mark on the sole plate.
(mark was right on)
I checked seams and seams measured 1/4" sewn. I cut fabric with a die cutter. Fabric measured accurately. All blocks 4 1/2" as they should be, and square.
Directions said 1/4" seam. Something's screwy. Block is 12 1/4 inch, not 12 1/2" Spaces for sewing blocks together are 1/4" so points are right on. The shortage seems to be showing up on the finished block only.

I can easily do a scant 1/4" seam by using the foot that came with the machine. I took a marker and put the markings for stopping and turning seams on the basic machine foot. It is about 2 threads shy of 1/4" and I can tape to the edge of the foot on the sole plate. But if the pattern wants a scant seam, then SAY SO.