Ever wonder why you sew a perfect quarter inch seam and after putting all your pieces together for a particular block, your finished block still runs a little smaller than it was supposed to be when you square it off? Well, I’m going to explain that phenomenon to you and where I learned the answer to this question….
One of the things that always puzzled me was why would you sew a “scant” quarter inch seam. After all, a quarter inch seam is a quarter inch seam. Why would it be anything else. Right? Then a pattern or instructor throws this “scant” stuff at you. I just always accepted what to do, but wondered why? What is the difference between a quarter inch seam and a scant quarter inch and why would you use one or the other. I’ll tell you. Sometime ago I read or heard someone who answered my question. It’s because when you press your seam to one side the stitching takes up some of the space in the fabric. Sizing is especially crucial when sewing half square triangles and quarter square triangles. I didn’t believe it myself until I tried it. That is why a scant quarter inch seam is sewn a fraction to the right of where that seam should be.
Now what’s a generous quarter inch seam. Guess what, it’s the exact opposite. It’s the scant line sewn to the left of that quarter inch seam that can tighten up those squares that are a tad too big.
I hope this clears up the mystery of what a scant quarter inch seam is and why you use it.
Thanks for joining me and I hope to start enclosing little “sewing tips” for all my sewers, quilters or embroiderers in future blogs. If you have a neat tip, please send it to me and I will give you credit for your tip.
Until next time ……..
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Sewing Scoupe 