A Scant 1/4" is slightly less than a full 1/4" and
it helps you make accurate blocks and
get pointy points in blocks like these:
How to Get Pointy Points in Blocks with Triangles
A Scant 1/4" is slightly less than a full 1/4" and it helps you make accurate blocks and get pointy points in blocks like these:
So if I cut my pieces with a full ¼” seam allowance all around, why should I sew them together with slightly less than a full ¼”?
The reason is actually pretty simple.
It’s because the thread and fold in a seam have some width.
To compensate for that, you sew slightly less than a full ¼” so your finished seams actually come out measuring a full ¼”.
Using the top row of this Ohio Star as an example, before sewing the rows together, the points should be a full ¼” from the raw edges.
Here’s why sewing a scant ¼” keeps your points nice and pointy.
Sewing a Full 1/4"
When you sew the rows together a Full ¼” from the raw edges, the stitch line will be right on the points of the triangles.
When you press the rows open, the points end up in the fold.
The same thing happens to the points on the outside when you add sashing or a border.
Sewing a Scant 1/4"
When you sew the rows together a Scant ¼” from the raw edges, the stitch line will be about 2-thread widths away from the points.
When you press the rows open, you’ll have nice, pointy points.
Same with the points on the outside when you add sashing or a border.
So if I cut my pieces with a full ¼” seam allowance all around, why should I sew them together with slightly less than a full ¼”?
The reason is actually
pretty simple.
It’s because the thread and fold in a seam have some width.
To compensate for that, you sew slightly less than a full ¼” so your finished seams actually come out measuring a full ¼”.
Using the top row of this Ohio Star as an example, before sewing the rows together, the points should be a full ¼” from the raw edges.
Here’s why sewing a scant ¼” keeps your points nice and pointy.
Sewing a Full 1/4"
When you sew the rows together a Full ¼” from the raw edges, the stitch line will be right on the points of the triangles.
When you press the rows open, the points end up in the fold.
The same thing happens to the points on the outside when you add sashing or a border.
Sewing a Scant 1/4"
When you sew the rows together a Scant ¼” from the raw edges, the stitch line will be about 2-thread widths away from the points.
When you press the rows open, you’ll have nice, pointy points.
Same with the points on the outside when you add sashing or a border.
The Super Easy Seam Guide Setter makes it easy to
set a
scant ¼” guide on your sewing machine.
Sold out
The goal is to stick the Seam Guide in front of the presser foot of your sewing machine to help guide your fabric before it goes under the needle.
The Super Easy Seam Guide Setter makes it easy to align the Seam Guide so it's a Scant ¼” to the right of the needle.
Guiding your fabric against the edge of the Seam Guide makes it much easier to sew consistently, accurate Scant ¼” seam allowances.
Seam Guides are repositionable, removable and leave no sticky residue.
The Super Easy Seam Guide Setter makes it easy to set a
scant ¼” guide on your sewing machine.
Sold out
The goal is to stick the Seam Guide in front of the presser foot of your sewing machine to help guide your fabric before it goes under the needle.
The Super Easy Seam Guide Setter makes it easy to align the Seam Guide so it's a Scant ¼” to the right of the needle.
Guiding your fabric against the edge of the Seam Guide makes it much easier to sew consistently, accurate Scant ¼” seam allowances.
Seam Guides are repositionable, removable and leave no sticky residue.
