The Perfect Quarter-Inch Seam

The perfect quarter-inch seam isn't always an exact quarter inch.

Depending on what is being made, the seam can be scant, exact or generous. The type of thread used also can influence the size. Aurifil 50 weight, my favorite piecing thread, is very thin whereas King Tut, my current favorite for free-motion quilting, is thicker as a 40 weight three-ply thread. The same quarter inch seam will vary slightly. It's a tad bit larger with the lighter weight thread when pressed either open or to one side.

To get the exact quarter inch seam I want on the Juki TL-98Q I use the trick of using sticky notes to form a lip against which I can guide my fabric edge. As I usually tell my students, sewing can be as much of a tactile experience as a visual experience. As I guide my fabric my finger tells me it is riding exactly on the sticky note edge.

To secure the sticky notes so they don't move, I use blue painters tape. This is far better than reqular masking tape as it does not leave any residue on paper or fabric, even if it is left on for a long time. Those long-time leaves are never supposed to happen but life does happen!

Give this a try and see how easy it is to get your perfect quarter-inch seam.

Taming the Tension Monster

Rule #1 -- Read the manual.
Rule #2 -- Look at the illustrations.
Rule #3 -- Read the manual and look at the illustrations! Together!

This photo shows what happens when those rules are ignored. I was practicing away shortly after getting my Juki TL-98Q when the sound of the machine suddenly changed. When I removed the practice piece I saw all these loopies on the bottom.

I know loops on the bottom usually mean there is a problem with the top tension. I rethreaded the machine and tried again. Started fine then more loopies. I fiddled. Still loopies. Finally I took out the instruction manual and looked at it again ... for maybe the 10th time. This time I looked at the illustrations. Oops ... I'd been threading the machine incorrectly. Not a problem with straight stitching but definitely a mess with free-motion!

I began again with the basics:

- Changing the needle and making sure the new one wasn't bent before inserting it. I used the trick of putting a pin through the eye of the needle to make sure the top of the needle was thoroughly inserted.
- Reading the free motion instructions in the manual and setting the machine as described. The manual recommends 0 stitch length and 0 foot pressure.
- Removing the stitch plate and vacuuming and cleaning everything thoroughly
- Oiling. Lots of oil.
- Changing the bobbin to a newly wound one.
- Changing the bobbin tension until the case dropped slowly when dangled by the thread, per instructions from the manual.
- Testing and then making changes to the top tension.

Additionally, I had been using a Bobbin Genie washer. To me, the logical way to insert it was against the machine, not in the bobbin case. I noticed the top was bent so replaced it. When it bent again I went on an Internet search and discoverd a video by Sharon Schamber showing that the Bobbin Genie washer goes inside the bobbin case! Oops ... another newbie goof.

My stitch since I began setting my machine correctly has been spot on. I'm no longer hesitant to change the settings, especially bobbin tension. Even so, I'm keeping the manual close by for a refresher whenever I change thread.

On my little quilt project I've finished with the purple and am changing to green. I can tell the improvement in my technique already!

Little Practice Quilts

From the beginning of my machine quilting journey I disliked the muslin practice pieces every book and instructor seems to recommend. Sure, I can see all of my stitches, often in all their awfulness, but that's not very inspiring. I also find practice on muslin boring.

The benefit is in testing tension and getting the mind wrapped around the process. I simply don't like working on muslin practice pieces more than a few minutes.

This past weekend, while scouring through my stash to find something a little less boring I came across a panel I had purchased several years ago. The vegetables were bright and offered many options for free-motion quilting. I pulled more fabrics from my stash and began to cut 2 1/2" strips. Adding them to the sides gave me practice quilting a quarter-inch seam at a comfortable speed.

The result is 11 little quiltlets. I've started working on them by workin with purple sections first. To gain speed and stitch control I'm focusing first on free-motion stitching in the ditch. Then I work on straight lines. I'll move to outlining. Finally I'll move to free-motion stippling and border designs.

There's enough variety to keep my interested and focused. Best of all, I can see and feel improvement in my control and stitching. Today I'll work on finishing the purple areas before moving on to another color.

If you find practice boring take a panel, cut it to pieces, and add border strips. Then add batting and a backing. Pin or baste the layers together. Have fun!

Taming the Wild Juki

A selling feature of the Juki TL-98Q is that it can stitch 1500 stitches per minute. That's 25 stitches per second! Far too many for me to contemplate ever using.

I'm accustomed to my Baby Lock Quilter's Choice where I can regulate speed with a sliding switch or my Viking 1+ where I can set speed to fast, medium or slow. The thought of the Juki suddenly taking off at 25 stitches a second is scary!

One solution (other than hours of practice) is a speed control. They're available for about $50. Impatient as I am I didn't want to wait for an order to arrive so I decided to build my own. Plans for building a speed control are available on the Juki or Brother Yahoo groups. Parts are easily available at any RadioShack store. Cost for everything, including an inexpensive soldering iron, is about $25.

Many years ago I built my own Ham radio station. I've also done silversmithing so I'm familiar with using power tools, cable strippers and soldering irons. The speed control is simply a potentiometer connected between the machine and the foot pedal.

Putting the control together was a good evening's work and a terrific distraction -- I was waiting for calls from my son to tell me how my daughter-in-law was progressing in her labor.

My Juki can still stitch wildly but not as frighteningly. Learning to sew at a slow, controlled speed isn't easy but I feel I'm learning faster with my speed control than without it.

Finally Finished!

My grandson Lukas is now four and two-thirds years old. His brother Nikolaus not quite a month. Both finally have the baby quilt I started five years ago. It's one that has hand applique and embroidery. The quilting is hearts and loops. It's the quilting that began the frustration.

And now, the joy.

I wanted to give the quilt for Lukas' birth. Instead, I realized there was no way I could machine quilt it. I simply did not have the skill.

The quilt was put away and I vowed to learn to quilt by machine. I took classes.I bought books and videos. I fumbled my way through a few small projects. I made lots of tops and that's how they've remained. Every New Year I make the resolution to finally learn to machine quilt. Every year I have failed. Miserably.

The baby's quilt was a glaring symbol of my failure. A growing collection of tops mocked me. I'd either have to learn to machine quilt or accept that I would spend my quilting career as a topper.

I focused on doing something I hadn't done before -- sitting down at my machine and practicing for an hour or more every day. I don't like muslin samples that all the books recommend so I started making placemats. The cat loves them. Leaves and loops. Easy to transition to hearts and loops. Finally I began on the baby's quilt.

In this photo it's finished except for the binding.

I discovered I really enjoy machine quilting! So much so that I gave myself an early Christmas present: a Juki TL-98Q. It's a straight stitch machine with a wide throat. Perfect for machine quilting.

Now the real learning begins!

Merry Christmas!

Did you realize it has been an entire year since I last wrote in this blog? I didn't. I thought about things to blog and wrote them out mentally. Just never put fingers to keyboard.

This year - 2009 -- has been an odd one. I was blessed to have a seasonal position while many friends were jobless. I discovered taxes are endlessly fascinating, so much so that I began studying to become an Enrolled Agent.

My seasonal position was to end April 20. Given the recession, I wasn't hopeful I could find another job quickly. I had battened down the financial hatches and was confident I could survive until the job market improved...or until tax season arrived again.

Much to my surprise and delight I was approached shortly before the seasonal position ended and offered a full-time position in another department. Wow! What a relief!

During this past year there were many weeks when my studio work was neglected. My focus was on survival during this recession.

I realized I'd better get busy quilting for the arrival of my second grandson. That's a separate story so I will end here with a smile and a wish that everyone has a Merry Christmas. As with last year, my Christmas Eve was spent enjoying my family via Skype. What a joy to see my older grandson dash around opening and enjoying presents while the newest edition, born December 5, was part of our circle of family.

Now it's time to head out for Christmas dinner with friends!