Stitching Guide

Hey Pat

I saw one of those several years ago and thought it would help with my piecing. Being very short of cash, I took their idea and made my own. I took a "post it" note and drew a diagonal line down the middle, applied double sided scotch tape and stuck it to my machine. Works for me. You could use quarter inch graph paper also.

Kate T.

Just a piece of masking tape or blue painter's tape that comes straight out from your needle will do the trick. You just guide the point of the fabric along the edge of the tape to sew perfectly diagonal from corner to corner. I've been doing this for years..... no need to mark the diagonal or to spend the $$$! And.... if you want to sew 1/4 in. to each side of the center, just do a little marking on a paper mock-up of the square to find where the tape needs to be so you can aim the corner at the edge of the tape and be offset by 1/4 in. from the center!

Leslie, The Cheapskate & The Furbabies in MO.

If you cut thru several layers of tape while it is still on the roll - it works like a charm. Simply put a rule under the needle and measure out 1/4" and place the thick tape there. It works as a great guide. It won't harm the machine finish and is easily removed.

Bonnie, I don't know as several layers would be necessary- you are only guiding the point along the edge of the tape for diagonal sewing, not butting it up against it like you would for a 1/4 in. seam allowance guide. Several layers might actually get in the way with the diagonals???

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

That's what happens when someone jumps into an on going conversation ;-)

Kate: Your method (and that of several other clever RCTQ quilters) seems to be similar to the ANGLER tool, a different notion.

The > Hey Pat

Pat, I think this looks *much* nicer than the Angler or other things that stick to the bed of the machine. Having it on top of the fabric would seem to me to be much easier to see. I've never seen this before, but I'm thinking I'll keep my eyes open. :)

Some questions come to mind about the device: (1) is it easy to read through using various fabric colours (2) what sticks it to the foot? and will it stay stuck? for how long? (3) will it interfere with handling the next pieces of fabric in chainpiecing? (4) is there any residual gum left on the bottom of the foot afterwards? (5) will it 'shift' to the left or right during use if it is knocked? (6) does it interfere with the feed dog action and the foot (any width of foot or only a particular sized one?) jennellh (change the mail to news)

You are right, Pat. I have one of these. Haven't been able to set up and really use it yet. But since the guide rides on top of the fabric it can be used when you are not sewing a quarter inch from an "edge". I did get it mounted on a foot (one that I don't use often) and will try it out later on and let you know how it works. From the little I did do with it, there is a learning curve since you are guiding the fabric with a different way of looking at what/where you are going. (If that make sense. If it doesn't-- blame it on the extreme heat. good a reason as any......)

Pati, who is melting in Phx

Pat > Kate:

I have one of those things. It works okay for some things. I don't think it's any more accurate than marking diagonal seams but it is a whole lot faster. Plus you can use it for a variety of things.

It stays stuck and it doesn't leave residue on the foot.

Ms P

Thanks for your opinion, Ms. P! Does the 'stickiness' last enough so you can remove and replace the device on a regular basis?

TIA, PAT > I have one of those things. It works okay for some things. I don't