How to Quilt>Accurate Seam Allowances
Simple Tricks for Stitching Accurate Patches
Robin's Nest DVD
See first-hand the secrets for sewing perfect points on your triangles, adding sashing between the blocks, and my secret for sewing a hanging sleeve that nobody will see (except the person who is hanging the quilt!). This 9 patch block is an original design.
Read more. . .
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Getting patches square and the same size seems to be an ongoing challenge of quilters. Here are a few things you can do to check and improve the accuracy of your stitching:
- Watch the cut edges of your patches as you are sewing on the machine – instead of watching the needle. By focusing on the edge of the fabric, and making sure that it lines up with your mark of a 1/4 inch seam allowance (whether that is tape on your throat plate or a presser foot), you will be more likely to see when your sewing is accurate.
- If a seam is longer than 2 to 3 inches, pin along the seam before you sew – not just at the beginning or the end. That will stabilize the fabrics, and you will be more likely to sew both fabrics an even 1/4 inch away from the edge.
- Iron your patches facing right sides together, often that helps keep the patches stuck together and lined up.
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| Line up the raw edge of your fabric with the "Little Foot" to get an accurate 1/4 inch seam allowance. |
- Consider getting a "little foot." This is a special presser foot for your sewing machine that
extends 1/4 inch from your sewing machine needle. You can line up the raw edge of your fabric with the side of the foot to ensure an accurate 1/4 inch seam allowance.
- Use a 1/4 inch wide piece of masking tape to mark the end of your sewing line - i.e., your stopping point if you need to end 1/4 inch away from the edge of your patches.
- If you are sewing bias pieces, try starching your pieces - that will make them stiff and less likely to stretch.
- When sewing angled, pointed pieces (such as diamonds or triangles), start with the wide end first. That way, the skinny tip is less likely to get eaten by the feed dogs (after all, they are pretty hungry).
- When beginning chain sewing, start with a scrap of fabric (also known as a "fabric bunny") , and then add your first pair of patches after you sew through the scrap. Continue sewing the patches in the chain, and then add the scrap as the last piece in your chain. That way, you always have a scrap ready to begin a new chain. If you have a "next" quilt planned, you could sew patches of the "next" quilt at the end of your chain sewing.
Use a scrap to start your chain, and begin on the wide end of a triangle. |
Happy Quilting!
Penny is a quilter of more than 25 years who seeks to interest new
quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create
beautiful quilts.
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©2006, Penny Halgren
