The majority of quilting requires the use of a quarter ” seam. If you’ve ever learned sewing clothing, then you are familiar with five-eighth” seam allowance. Now, let me tell you to do not think about that. If the seam allowance of your block is 1/8″ off, and you have large pieces of fabric that make the block 1/8″ may seem like a small amount. But, if there are several seams on the block, an inch” multiplied by 4 or six is the equivalent of a half” to 3/4″ difference. Your blocks will not be in line.
Here are some methods to get an exact and constant 1/8″ seam allowance
1/4 ” foot for sewing machines
Utilizing computerized sewing machines, discover the perfect 1/4-inch measurement by clicking the needle in the desired direction.
Two methods are extremely simple and efficient. First, find a quarter” seam allowance foot.
The foot is exactly 1/4 ” over the needle on both sides and you simply need to align with the edges of your foot to edges of fabric before sewing. Quarter inch foot are available at most suppliers of sewing machines as well as many fabric stores.
Next, draw a straight line on a piece writing paper using your ruler.
The Iron Is Your Friend
Every seam you create must be pressed to one side, typically towards the darker fabric but this may not be the most practical option. If you are sewing items together with seams already in them, ensure that you’ve pressed the seams prior to sewing them again.
Check your work
Repeat this process regularly until you begin to feel more confident about your abilities. It will not take long to master this skill. It’s the same amount of work to keep within your own lane when driving. Make sure to keep an eye on it! When you’re an aspiring quilter and you’ll want to ensure whether you’ve sewn 1/8″ seams. You can simply slide whatever you’ve sewn underneath the ruler, and then check it out.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Based on the amount of fabric (or T-shirts) that you own, it is essential to make sure you take accurate measurements. If you’re looking for a pattern, make sure that the information in the pattern is logical. When I was a novice (aka unexperienced) quilter, I made a costly error when I cut expensive fabric in accordance with instructions on the pattern. What do you think. It was a waste of fabric. I did not have enough fabric to finish the pattern exactly as it was written.
Use the BEST Quality Materials That You Can
The first quilt I designed created in the 70’s constructed from 77 yard of fabric. In any case, since I was looking for a vintage-looking quilt, I purchased one half yard of a collection of fabrics at the lowest cost. Unaware of any information about the fabrics’ content (100 percent cotton and poly-cotton blends), I started to sort through my stash’. So I’ve given away the quilt I’ve been making for over 40 years. This first quilt was washed numerous times. Certain fabrics are faded and some are disintegrating the polyesters have held their color!