Hidden Threads

For machine quilters, their sewing machine is probably their best friend, and understanding your sewing machine will make any quilting job easier.

Find the Quarter Inch Mark on the Sewing Machine

Much of quilting involves joining small pieces of fabric together to create a pattern. When these pieces are seamed together, the result is called piecing or piecework.
The most common piecework seam width is a quarter of an inch, and training yourself to sew an accurate quarter inch seam is one of the three critical skills you need to learn in quilting. The good news is that your sewing machine can often help you.

Find a ruler and go to your machine. Check the notches and guides along the throat plate (the metal square directly under the needle) or the area along which the fabric travels to the needle. The quarter inch mark from the needle’s center (or only) position may be marked there. If not, check the additional feet that came with your sewing machine. From the needle opening, measure to the right edge of the foot (as it faces you). These days many sewing machines come standard with a foot that provides a nifty quarter inch guide for your fabric.

Making An Accurate Quarter Inch Mark on Your Sewing Machine

If you can’t find a quarter inch guide or mark, you can make a guide yourself using an inexpensive cheat.

Check to see if you have masking tape, painter’s tape (It’s usually blue), or a pad of post-it notes. Measure the distance from the needle out a quarter inch to the right and position one of these items to create an edge or bumper.

This done, you will now have a guide with which to feed your fabric to the needle at an accurate quarter inch. Hooray.

Next lesson you’ll actually start sewing something.

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