Well here it is finally. My favourite way to achieve an accurate 1/4” seam allowance at the moment.
Firstly, I use the Mettler heirloom cotton thread 60/2 ply, or the YLI 100 wt. silk thread. The finer the thread, the less space it takes up in the seam, so it doesn’t eat up fabric when you press to the right side. This is part of the “Turn of Cloth” principal, once again from my fashion sewing background.
Secondly, both my Bernina’s have an adjustable needle position.
I use the standard straight stitch foot. I place the ruler I used to cut the quilt/project out with under the presser foot flush with the right edge of the foot.
Then I adjust the needle position to the right until the needle is exactly centered over the 1/4” marking.
Why do I believe this is more accurate?
Well, when you go through this process you now have all of your fabric under a foot and making contact with the feed dogs, so the fabric is pulled through the machine more evenly, and you have better control.
There are and always will be times when the 1/4” foot is a better option, curves, drunkards path etc.
I’m looking to trying the Bernina 1/4” foot with the seam guild on the right side.
Try this and let me know how it works for you. Everybody has their own way of doing things. Don’t forget I press as many seams open as practical to help with matching as well.
Hopefully we will see more entries, I’m moving this task to the begining of the day rather than the end.
We all know what happens to those tasks at the bottom of the list.
Have a great day
