How to Sew a 1/4″ Seam Allowance

The quarter-inch seam allowance is at the heart of most quilt patterns. The math that has been done to build the block from the units you’re sewing is based on that 1/4″ as the standard. Since sewing is a process of SUBTRACTION, meaning a bigger seam allowance makes a smaller finished product, keeping our seam allowances as close to an actual 1/4″ as possible is pretty important.

This episode, we walk through what a quarter-inch seam allowance should actually look like under the presser foot, how to test our finished sewing and see if we’re sewing a 1/4″ accurately in the first place, what to do if we’re NOT, and what the heck a “scant” 1/4″ seam allowance is, anyway.

Next on the How To Quilt video series: our first block! We’re making the classic LOG CABIN block, where we’ll work on good cutting skills and good seam allowances!