Its like Rocket Science..SERIOUSLY!!!

[sweetstkissez22]

Okay, so I dont have any friends or family that sew..I am the first! This means that unfortunately I am self taught, or self learning...either way! I dont have access to a class yet because I have two little ones Im home with all day!

I learned the hard way that precision is key when it comes to sewing and quilting! I think I am getting much better, but it takes forever for me to get my measurements right. I am praying that this is just because I am new! (not because I am HORRIBLE AT MATH!!)

I also cant sew a STRAIGHT 1/4" seam to save my life..SERIOUSLY. I wish I would've gotten a warning that sewing is comparable to rocket science! I bought the tape from q-tools and that hasnt helped either, My 1/4" mark lies between the feed dogs on my machine..so Im at a loss with what to do! Is this something that will come with practice? I am getting extremely disheartened with ripping out seams constantly and starting over! Its really making me want to quit!!

Any help or advice will be much appreciated!

Thanks-
Kim

[mlt150]

Buy a quarter inch presser foot to help you guide the material.

[bakermom]

Mostly it's practice! some people swear by a 1/4" foot, some have a little piece you bump the fabric up against. Others use a stack of post-its to guide them. but mostly it just takes practice. Other hints i've heard:

don't watch the needle, watch the fabric as you guide it to the needle.

find a speed your comfortable with and put a block or book under the edge of your foot control so you can't speed.
Above all, don't get discouraged. many of us on here have been sewing for years and we still struggle with some things. we're all still learning.

[sassyquilter]

I really want to try one of those 1/4" presser feet too, but for now I have learned it doesn't always have to be perfect and we are much harder on ourselves than anyone else And don't forget to go slow.

[sassyquilter]

I was watching a quilting show and this lady said she cut her fabric a little off to give it an antique look.....tooooo funny I didn't know that was what I was doing all along. LOL!

[Milliee]

Hi, I too am self taught, don't have any one in family who sews, and it is hard going. The MSQC videos beginners are great.
I highly recommend that you view them. Jenny is a helpful instructor.

[newbiequilter]

I've been wanting to try one of the wavy designs but not sure I could get the edges to match up. So just tell yourself that you are adding a design feature to your work.

[quiltingtrish]

Hello Kim - and welcome! We surely don't want you getting discouraged.
I use a piece of black electric tape - but maybe you'd want to use a piece of blue painters tape. The black electric tape can leave a residue on your machine.
Anyways, try this. Take your blue painters tape and cut off a piece about 3" long. Put that on your machine where the edge of your fabric would butt up against it. Now, put 2 pieces of scrap material in your machine and put your needle down like you are going to start sewing a seam. Sew a little bit. Take the fabric off and measure from where the seam runs to the edge of the fabric. That's what you want as 1/4". So, if your seam is too big, move the fabric over a little and your painters tape and keep doing that until you get it right. When you get it right, that will be where you always want your fabric edge to butt up against.
I hope this made sense to help you out.

Oh, and when you get to the end of a seam, the fabric wants to do its own thing and turn inwards unless you pay close attention and try to hold it straight - some people use a stiletto or even maybe a pair of tweezers would work.

Hugs,

[rebeccas-sewing]

I'd also suggest getting some scrap fabric and just practicing until you get the coordination down. There's nothing worse than constantly having to rip things out. Hopefully, you are starting out with some really simple sewing projects before tackling quilts. I definitely didn't start out making quilts when I first learned to sew. If you start out with something too difficult you will definitely be frustrated and want to give up. If you just feel like you've got to make a quilt, there are some really cute quilts that are made with very little piecing involved. You might consider starting with something like that. I also think you need to invest in a 1/4" piecing foot. I'm an experienced seamstress and I would never attempt to make a quilt without this foot.

[Sunnyok]

a 1/4" presser foot is a great investment, you can also get a 1/4" foot with a guide. Check out your local sewing store.