Seams

[SnowWhite7]

I am relatively new to quilting. Made a logcabin in a day, but the lady who helped/taught me using Quilt In A Day, told me to use scant quarter seems. Can someone help me with this? Elanor uses a full quarter inch. With the scant quarter, my blocks turned out the right size. I don't know if it would be so with a full quarter inch.
Thanks

[Marilynsgrammy]

the scant 1/4 inch moves your needle over a smidgen so it isnt' a full 1/4 inch but just a very little less than 1/4 inch... usually a thread or two less...so your block will be a thread or two larger tahn the actual 1/4 inch...

hope this helps.

[MainelyMe]

Honestly, this whole " scant 1/4 inch " thing makes me nuts!!

Why it ever got started I'll never understand! The whole thing about accurate seams being the key to accurate blocks, gets blown when you ask everyone to do it differently.

Okay, now that I've blown off steam.... As long as you are CONSISTANT with your seams, and they are all the same size, all of your blocks will fit together. So, in my opinion, just make sure your seams are all the same, and I mean by measuring them, not just looking at them.

JMHO, Joan

[QIAD-Linda]

Seam allowance: 1/4" vs Scant 1/4" depends on the pattern. With a Log Cabin it doesn't matter what your seam allowances are as long as they are all the same width. I know that some Quilt in a Day patterns use a scant 1/4 but they are usually patterns that have curves or tight points. Just remember that whatever seam allowance you use make sure you are consistent throughout all of your blocks and you will be ok.

[memaw4]

The scant 1/4" scares me too! I have a 1/4" foot I use and then I'm sure I'm getting the right size seam.

[cindyg]

The day I have to worry about 2 threads being 1/4" or a scant 1/4" is the day I'll quit quilting. That's a little too nit-picky for me. I use my 1/4" foot and that's that.

[Quiltmom]

I just use my quarter inch foot otherwise I would go nuts. Just do the same on each seam.

Sherry

[Susie]

I am so glad to read these responses. That scant quarter inch has always made me a little crazy. And frankly, I don't care if my quilt measures EXACTLY a certain number when it is all put together. If it keeps me (or someone else) warm on the bed then it is good enough for me!
Susie

[QIAD-Linda]

I love this discussion and want to weigh in on it. El uses a "scant" 1/4" seam sometimes in special cases. I use a 1/4" foot too and wouldn't sew without it. To obtain a "scant" 1/4" all you have to do is move your need a couple of threads over. It is easy to do if you have a computerized sewing machine. I have an Elna 7200 and I just click on a button and it moves the needle whichever way I need it to go. I don't know about any patterns except El's and when she tells you to use a scant 1/4 there is a reason for it - it makes your piecing come together smoother. I an definitely not a perfectionist, far from it. I just try to keep consistent with whatever size seam allowance I use.
Love all the comments!

[shelly322002]

this is a quote from 'JULES' from a previous discussion a while back...
i loved this explanation so copied it into a folder on my pc...
i think it explains why sometimes we need to use a 'scant' 1/4" seam at times...
i hope it helps...

QUOTE...
'As for the trouble with 1/4 inch seams.....everything you do to a seam can alter the width of it, from the thickness of your thread to pressing, when you press a seam, you will lose a couple of threads of the weave on the fold, this will alter the finished size, if you use a thicker thread to sew with then it will push one or two more threads onto the fold so your block can be shrinking all the time, same for appliqué it pulls up the background fabric and even if it's only one thread of the weave it can make a difference......I once had a lecture with a top quilter, she's been quilting over 30 years and makes championship quality quilts and during the full day lecture she gave us all her hints and tips to get a perfect top, the main one that stuck with me was the seam allowance and the difference these one or two threads can make, on one seam it might not seem too much but over the whole width of the quilt all those minuscule threads all add up and can make quite a difference, so the more seams you have the more chance you have of your size being out.......every so often I recheck my seams like El does with 3 strips of fabric 2 1/2 x 4 1/2, sew two long sides together, press, then sew the third across the top, if your seams and pressing are correct the top strip will fit perfectly across the other two......I always use a scant 1/4 inch seam and if I've got a lot of seams crisscrossing each other I use an even scanter one to allow for fabric loss on the fold. '