Wednesday 29 April 2009

the big question...........

Finally a post that involves fabric (just)................this question has come about while having a discussion with my friend (who shall remain nameless while she is unpicking seams) we discovered she didn't have a 1/4 inch foot................she doesn't do lots of block piecing but she has done a bit................

(there is a black guide on the right of the foot - bit hard to see sorry)

then I was cruising blogland and saw another blogger say she didn't have a 1/4 inch foot...............I just assumed everyone had a 1/4 inch foot...............but maybe not...........

Here is a photo of my 1/4 foot for my Janome machine................

Do you have a 1/4 inch foot????????

What foot do you use the most on your machine and why????????

.........take care til next time.............
.......Chookyblue..........

PS thanks for all the comments re the echidna..........Ranette said she thought she would rather deal with a snake............oh NO.........they are deadly here...........

56 comments:

Abby and Stephanie said...

I use my 1/4" foot the most. (I also have a Janome and LOVE it). It's the only way to get an accurate seam allowance for piecing for quilts. I've been know to wear out a 1/4" foot on my Pfaff.

Kate said...

I'm split 50/50 between my 1/4 inch foot and my free-motion foot. But apparently a 1/4 inch foot doesn't guarantee a perfect 1/4 inch seam; you need to play around with the needle position a bit, at least on my machine...

Jennie said...

Oh, I use my 1/4" foot by FAR the most! I have a Pfaff, and they have a 1/4" foot with a guide on the side too, and that's the one I use the most. The second most used foot is my open toe applique foot! ~ Jennie

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

My Bernina #37 foot is the one I use almost all the time. It's a quarter-inch but doesn't have the guide on the side.

Nancy said...

I have two 1/4 inch feet (foots?).
My Bernina came with #37, but then I purchased a #57 which is a 1/4 inch with the guard. I love them both....

Cardygirl said...

I have 2 machines & my 14" foot is on most of the time. The Bernette has a guide on the side like yours, but the Bernina has no guide on it's foot. It is an easy mistake to make- a friend who is a very experienced sewer got confused after buying a new machine & was mistakenly sewing with the wrong foot..unpick,unpick!

Cardygirl said...

OOps! Should read 1/4" or else I spend a lot of time unpicking! LOL

Annie said...

I have only recently, last 2 years learned that a 1/4 inch foot existed, and I DON"T know how I managed before that. I use it ALL the time and just love it. I think I must have been a pretty wonky sewer B4 that!

rachelmp said...

I nearly always use the 1/4" foot and my Janome had the same one as yours. I never liked the guide but the no 37 one on my Bernina doesn't have one and I really like it. When I sew dresses for my daughter it feels wrong! I also use my walking foot a fair bit, especially to put on binding.

Lynn said...

I bought a 1/4" foot about 3 years ago and I use it so much that I forget to remove it to do zig-zag stitch and end up breaking my needles. So using my 1/4" foot means less thinking on my part - something I'm all for.

Thimbleanna said...

I have a 1/4" foot and I love it, but it's not terribly accurate. I have to adjust my needle to one side, as I prefer a scant 1/4" seam.

And there's NO WAY I'd rather handle a snake -- I could almost cuddle that little echidna! ;-)

Knitting Auntie (aka Sharon) said...

I have a janome and have the quarter inch foot...for my brother machine i don't have the foot but the machine has a setting where the quarter inch is done by moving the needle (its a patchwork setting)

Unknown said...

I have a Janome and use the 1/4 inch foot, but I took the black piece off. I found it to be a pain in the neck, so I just use the edge of the foot.

Kate said...

1/4 " all the way for me

I've worn out 1 and each of my machines has its own 1/4" foot.

Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie said...

I have a Bernina and purchased a 1/4" foot, but tend to use my regular foot and move my needle over. Seems to hold onto the fabric better.
Keep Stitchen'
Bonnie

Rumi said...

I have a Viking and while I do not have a specific 1/4" foot, my machine has a 1/4" needle position. I wish I had that black guide that butts up against the fabric. How nice!

Teodo said...

I've a Husqvarna with 1/4 foot and the guide on the side, and then an old Pfaff without foot and without the guide and I put a bit of adhesive tape like a guide.
ciao ciao

Anita said...

I have a pfaff and my 1/4" foot is on the machine all the time. I use it 99.9% of the time. I can't remember the last time I used something different.

jodie said...

I always wondered what a 1/4" foot looked like. Needless to say I don't have one.

Anne Ida said...

I have a 1/4" foot on my Bernina that I use for almost everything - including strainght line quilting. It doesn't have a bar (one of those black things) on it, I just guide the fabric along the edge of the foot, and it has some notches that shows 1/4" for starts and stops when doing set-ins etc. But when I do piecing at my parent's house or the family summer house, I use a machine that has a built in regular foot, and move the needle for a 1/4" seam (and yell at my Mum every time she has used the machine and moved the needle *lol*)

dutchcomfort said...

I have a Janome (6600) and a 1/4" foot, but the needleposition needs to be adjusted. I use the open standard foot the most and put my needle at the right position for a 1'4". My second most used one is the walking foot, great for quilting and stitching on bindings.

Zhenya and Nika Aksutin said...

Hello! My name is Nika! I so like your blog! We are from Russia. My husband and I to work with students. We organize many clubs to construct attitudes friendship and to speak them about the Christ. I have ladys club, we to do hand made cards, scrapbook, quilt and crosstitch. It is good opportunity to testify about our God and His love! Every Saturday I have craft club for ladyes. We do cards, quilt, crochet, cross stitch too. It very not usual and new to Russian culture. I to study from different blogs how to make cards, made quilt and to use different technics. We are missionary to the Far East Russia. We are russian. We live in city Birobidzhan, it is the Jewish region in Russia. A lot of Jews live here. They have synagogues and to celebrate religious holidays. But many of them do not know the Christ. We have 2 daughters. Polina is 8 years and Liliya is 2 years.And if you are interesting about us I shall be glad give answer to you. I will glad if you can write me.Sorry my English.
Nika

Sweet P said...

I use my 1/4" foot when I need a 1/4" seam. Otherwise I use my zig zag foot. I've been known to change the foot several times on a project.

Calidore said...

I bought a 1/4 inch foot that is very basic and has no guide and I hate it. It never seems to put enough pressure on the fabric to hold it in place as I sew. I always just use the normal foot for my Janome and move the needle position. Everytime I turn on the sewing machine I have to move the needle position but that's an easy thing to do rather than change feet all the time.

Anonymous said...

Yay for Jodie!!!! (Not that I know Jodie!) See Chooky... I'm not the only one that doesn't have one!! But come next week... Jodie might be the only one that doesn't have one!! I can't wait to get my new little treasure!

Anonymous said...

I have 1/4" feet for all my Pfaffs and I especially like the fact they have 1/4" red marks ahead and behind the needle position. I use them all the time and combined with Pfaff's IDT, have no problem with pressure on the fabric or managing thick layers.
I too have broken needles because I have forgotten to change the foot when wanting to zigzag or blanket stitch!

My other favourite foot is the darning foot...Pfaff have a larger 'open area' foot with 1/4" markings enabling you to accurately free motion around designs....I haven't quite managed to be that accurate yet!

Robbie

Willow Grove - Kez said...

have a 1/4" foot but before that I had just put tape down at 1/4" away from my needle and that worked for me.

Levin said...

Before I started my very first quilt I was advised to get a 1/4" foot and it was the best piece of advice I ever got - I use it all the time now - it makes life so much easier.
l
x

Wendy said...

Good question, I don't know if I have a 1/4 inch foot. I have alway just used the guide on the side.I have a Husqvarna( my baby for 25 years) dug and the book and all the feet. Well, I learned that the foot I use most is a 1/4 inch foot.

Thanks for the information

willywagtail said...

I don't have a 1/4" foot. It was meant to be part of my machine deal but it just never happened. Thusfar I haven't missed it because I don't follow patterns. I make everything up myself. At the moment my cutting boards are both metric though my rulers are imperial. If I ever get an imperial cutting board I might just need a 1/4" foot to keep the maths straight but i might also just keep breaking the rules.

Julia said...

My Husky Quilt Designer, has a computer push button to use a 1/4 inch seam...my Pfaff Grand quilter the normal foot is a perfect 1/4 inch seam..
I also use my free motion and walking foot the most..
Julia ♥

Joyce said...

I seldom use anything but my quarter inch foot but before I began quilting I never used it. Then I sewed mostly garments and used the regular foot.

Chocolate Cat said...

Yes I have a 1/4" foot for my Janome which lives on my machine. I rarely change, not actually sure what the other feet are for!!!

Mistea said...

No quarter inch foot for me, I use the zigzag foot and move the needle position, I don't like the way the quarter inch foot does not deal well with curves in sewing and I don't do straight often.

Little Munchkins said...

I don't have a 1/4in foot but then I don't do much quilting. I just use the regular foot that comes with the machine the most, followed by walking foot.

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

I barely take the quarter inch foot off, keeps me on track!!
I should be writing a devotion on grace and a Bible trivia quiz for 1230 people for tomorrow night...but I am visiting you instead so you don't feel I've fallen off the planet!!
So much good stuff...
LOVED the echidna story, it would be living in our house now if that were us, we love them!
The close up flower and beach pics were great...and yes, I am a big B and S girl as well, should be well up from 20!! I am thinking of having that as the theme for my 40th this year, the only way I'll ever get to one again!
Stay well,-and thankls for commenting when my life is mental! love Tracey

Laila said...

Hi. I use my 1/4" almost all the time. I got a Janome too ;-) I also have a old Bernina with a 1/4" foot.

Judith Tetley said...

mmmmmmm...got one of those quarter inch foots and use it all the time on my Janome for my small magazine projects. However, it is not as accurate for the all over size of a quilt as my new Husqvarna 'Mega Quilter' machine is. The actual permanent foot on the Mega Quilter is made for sewing the 'scant' quarter inch seam, which allows for the "rise" in the fabric on each seam...thus giving an accurate measurement once the quilt is finished.
Hugs..Judith
www.creativestudio10.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I now have a 1/4" foot for my machine and it lives there. But my first few years of quilting I did it without. I had a built up blob of masking tape to make the seam allowance. Now that I have the foot, I don't ever want to go back.

StockdaleJo said...

Hi, I bought a 1/4" foot for my old Bernina 830. Its wonderful and the same as the one that Anne Ida has......no guide but notches to mark where you stop or turn. Just place the fabric under the foot lined up with the edge and away you go....too easy.....use it for everything now.
Cheers

Unknown said...

Oh yes I have a 1/4" foot. I don´t know how I would sew without it.

Red Geranium Cottage said...

Gotta have my 1/4 inch foot or I'm lost! Love the walking foot too although I've used my zipper quite a bit lately.

Lori in South Dakota said...

I have several 1/4" feet, but prefer the clear plastic one with the 1/4" marks before the seam. Great for corners on bindings.

MissyMack said...

My machine has an inbuilt 1/4" stitch that I can select. So it will move the needle 1/4" from the edge of the foot. 'Tis great!

limpingalong said...

I bought a 1/4 inch foot but found (the hard way) that it wasn't an accurate 1/4 inch. That was solved by moving the needle when I use the foot, but I was somewhat annoyed that it didn't work straight away. Meanwhile, I've found that the edge of my regular foot and my walking foot both give me an accurate 1/4 inch. My new machine has a 1/4 inch setting but I still use the edge of the foot to guide me. It seems to be working well.
I guess I use my walking foot quite a lot. My new machine doesn't have one but with the stitch regulator, that may not be a problem. Time will tell!

~ Sara ~ said...

For years (more than a decade) I didn't have one (1/4") foot... of course being just 12 or so when I started my pieceing madness I didn't know of such a thing.

When I bought my Bernina I got the 1/4" FREE so I've been in heaven ever since!

Bec Clarke said...

I have the same 1/4 foot as you and I love it. It works a treat, it gets plenty of use when I am patchworking. As for snakes, well you are right but most Americans don't realise what we have here. My DH loves Echidna's we see them quite often on our farm.

ozjane said...

Have a 1/4" foot also a 1/4" foot setting on my Hus so need to remember not just to poke at the display screen to go to the quilting menu but one more tap to get the 1/4" seam in the correct place.
Very nice and accurate.

Kimonos and Sushi(OLD BLOG) said...

I didn't eve know that I had a 1/4 inch foot for my machine till I went to the local Quilt shop with my machine, the lovely Vivki put it on for me and have had it on the machine ever since. I would not be without it now it guides me when I sew...LOL
Andrea

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

I have one of these little fellows and would be lost with out it Chooky.....

Anonymous said...

i would be lost without my 1/4 inch foot. i use it the most and only take it off to put the walking foot on. i've just bought a janome again and am in love with it *smile*.

Jantine said...

I have a 1/4inch foot for both my machines now, but they didn't come with the machine as we in the Netherlands use centimeters, so I had to order them. I do love sewing in inches, so it was worth the effort and the costs. I do most quilts in inches, but when I am sewing clothe and things like that, I will use my normal sewing foot!

julia said...

Now I add my two cents too (even though I don't think I can add anything new): I use my 1/4" foot with seam guide for my Bernina most of the time ~ I bought it despite already having a 1/4" foot without this guide before. I was always unsure about my seam allowance {always feared that the fabric wouldn't behave like I wanted it to ;o)}. So I mostly switch between those two for piecing. When quilting I love my walking foot and free motion foot...aaand I love a couple of other feet for buttonholes, etc.
Cheers, Julia

Lauren The Artist said...

I can't live without the 1/4 inch foot. I use it on my Elna. I also use the clear plastic "applique" foot quite a bit. I'm on my second clear foot & first 1/4" foot.

Bec said...

I use my 1/4" foot the most too. Love it, wouldn't be without it. I would have thought that EVERYONE had one, but you know what thought did!
My nly problem with it is that my machine needles tend to break. This is due to my thoughtlessness. Te 1/4" foot will be on then I decide to mend something with zigzag stitch, or stitch a name for a label; CRACK there goes the needles because I DIDN"T change the foot!

SewAmy said...

I do not have a 1/4" foot. I use a regular foot and just know where th 1/4" mark is.