From Janet Wickell,
Your Guide to Quilting.
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Test Your Seam Allowance

Sewing an accurate quarter inch seam allowance is essential for the accuracy of your quilt blocks unless you're using a freehand method such as foundation piecing to put them together. If seams are not accurate, patches will not align with each other properly when it's time to sew blocks and other components together.

Let's set up your sewing machine to sew an exact quarter inch seam, the standard seam allowance used for quilts. Once you've mastered a quarter inch seam, your blocks will have units with sharp points and crisp corners, and they'll all match-up when it's time to stitch them together.

Be sure to brush up on your rotary cutting skills and learn important pressing techniques before you begin.

Materials to Test Seam Allowances

• Rotary cutter, mat and 24-inch rotary ruler
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine with a quarter-inch presser foot; use the standard foot if you do not have a quarter-inch foot
• 2 light fabric strips, each 2" x 4"
• 1 dark fabric strip, 2" x 4"

Have extra fabric nearby in case you need more test strips.