No fuss quarter-inch seams and perfect pressing
This is a lesson on how to achieve a perfect ¼ inch seam with no fuss.
In addition, you will learn how to press the Jan T way — for success!
Lesson 1: Perfect seams
for perfect patchwork
You'll learn how to make adjustments to achieve a perfect ¼ inch seam for your patchwork.
What you need: Equipment
for sewing your test piece
Sewing machine
Iron and ironing pad or board
Rotary cutter
Rotary cutting board
Quilter's rotary ruler
Those are some of my old friends, my quilting tools.
Rotary Cutting equipment
on Amazon
What you need: Fabric
for the practice piece
Cut strips of fabric:1½ inches x 5 inches
2 strips of dark coloured fabric
1 strip of light coloured fabric
Sewing your seam practice piece
- Place one dark strip (right side down), onto the light strip (right side up), matching the long edge.
- Sew down the long side keeping the edge next to the guide on the machine foot.
- Press the seam towards the dark strip.
- Take the second dark strip and place it right side down on the light strip, on the opposite edge to the other dark strip.
- Sew the next seam at ¼ inch as before.
- Press towards the new dark strip.
1: Place a dark strip on a light strip
Right sides together, sew with a quarter inch seam
2: Press to the dark strip
Follow the instructions in Lesson 2: Pressing
3: Attach the other dark strip
On the opposite side
Press to the dark as before
4: Press to the dark as before
Test piece ready for measuring
5: Place your quilter's ruler on top
so that the light centre strip can be measured
6: If your centre strip is EXACTLY 1" wide
You did it!
Perfect seams.
Congratulations!
Troubleshooting
How wide is the centre strip?
Is the strip less than 1 inch wide?
The seams are not EXACTLY ¼ inch.
Turn the work over, and measure the seam allowance.
Cut some more strips and try again. This time, make sure you are keeping the edges right up beside the flange on the foot of the machine, or that the edges are exactly at the side of your patchwork foot.
Is the strip more than 1 inch wide?
You will need to keep the edges just shy of the edge of the foot.
Once you are familiar with how your machine performs, then you will be able to get perfect seams every time.
Patchwork feet for sewing machines
for sale on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Generic foot for sewing machines
on Amazon
Patchwork Foot with Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 02/10/2010)
Lesson 2: How to press patchwork
the Jan T way
Follow the steps below to get perfectly flat piecing.
IMPORTANT!
Do NOT pull the 'lid' or you will roll the seam allowances, causing problems when you are joining blocks together later in the quilting process.
1: Place the sewn patches
on the ironing surface with the darker patch on top.
2. Lift the 'lid' slightly
just enough to get the iron under
3: Glide the iron sideways
out towards the darker patch
4: Complete the sweep with the iron
without pulling
See how flat the seam is?
That's how to get great patchwork by machine
Press the Jan T way, you can't lose!
Press with these irons
from Amazon
Small ironing boards
great for patchwork
Are you ready?
To go back to sewing your first patchwork block:
-
Make your first patchwork block
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How to make a Four Patch quilt block with Jan T. Step by step, I'll take you through the easy process for making a simple patchwork block: Four Patch. This such an easy block to make, and can be used in combinations like small bocks with larger bloc...
Back to the beginning
My quiltmaking lensography
you'll find much good info here
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Best Patchwork and Quilting Tips from Jan T
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I know lots about patchwork and quilting that I'd love to share with you. Do you want to make better quilts? Have you got some patchwork/quilting tasks that you need help with? Let me help you. I'm Jan T (Urquhart) Baillie. I've been teaching and...
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If you'd like to request a patchwork tutorial, please fell free to ask.
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Reply
- JanTUB JanTUB Jun 27, 2009 @ 5:24 am | in reply to spirituality
- Thanks so much!
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- spirituality spirituality Jun 27, 2009 @ 4:13 am
- :) very good introduction :) blessed again :)
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