What is a scant 1/4 inch ?

[CaroleJ]

Okay, to add my own fat eighth...

Is it just *me*, or are the newer presser feet on sewing machines really LARGE--?! I have an old Singer, circa 1970-something, and the presser foot is maybe 1 1/2" long and maybe 1/2 inch wide...and I like it that way. I can actually see what I am doing!

I also have another Singer, even older, but it has a newer presser foot and the thing is HUGE. I feel like I can't see anything but FOOT when I use it...and I have noticed that many of the more "modern" machines also have these big ol' feet. Even the newer 1/4 inch foot looks big and clumsy to me.

Someone please tell me I am not utterly insane at being annoyed about this...and tell me where I can get some lovely SMALL FEET!

Carole

[mamaw]

My friend tells me she just sews with her 1/4" foot and doesn't pay attention to the scant 1/4. All pieces are sewn the same so go together just fine. Only downfall is that the finished blocks don't get the exact measurements that the pattern says...such as 9 1/2 or 12 1/2" blocks.

[gardenquilter]

i was taught that a scant 1/4 is just a couple of threads less than a 1/4" i am not sure if that is correct but it works for me - i place the fabric just inside of my measurement i have tape on my machine instead of a foot

[JudyWoo]

Once I finish this project, I'm NEVER going to sweat the scant 1/4-inch thing again.

I got myself all worked up today and was actually trying to measure the LINES ON MY RULER to see if they were 1 or 2 or 3 threads wide.

On the Moda fabric I'm working with right now, a ruler line is exactly 1.65 threads wide.

Bet you're wondering how I measured the lines so precisely ... well our neighbor is an opthamologist and I called him and said, "Lyndon! I need help!" And he used his technical gadgets and was able to tell me what I wanted to know. I had to promise to watch his dog next weekend though. lol

[CaroleJ]

JudyWoo...deeeep breaths.....take all the energy you have invested in obsessing about seam allowances.....and go quilt! Let it go and just have some fun! You are growing and that is a wonderful thing!

Doesn't that feel better? ((big hug))
Carole

[sewbug]

I solved the scant 1/4 problem long ago after saying to myself, Are they nuts? I sew with a smaller stitch and press open my seams. My blocks always come out the correct size. Also the thickness of the thread makes a big difference in the 1/4 seam when it's pressed to one side.

[sunsup]

Good advice, Carole J

[CaroleJ]

Thanks, Sunsup...! I have seen so many times how the quest for perfection becomes a blockade to productivity and joy. Perfectionism is really just an ugly beast that does nothing but drag us down and makes us feel "less than".

Carole

[ToriaQuilts]

WOW! The amazing information about 1/4 inch seam. I have had some giggles reading the info I apologize. Any way I have noticed how some of my blocks are off and I am not always consistent with my sewing. Live and learn. And Amen to lets just have fun quilting.

[sunsup]

I can't remember who said "finished is better than perfect", but it is worth remembering.