Getting patches square and the same size seems to be an ongoing

challenge of quilters.

Here are a few things you can do to check and improve the

accuracy of your stitching:

• Watch the cut edges of your patches as you are sewing on

the machine -- instead of watching the needle. By focusing on the

edge of the fabric, and making sure that it lines up with your

mark of a 1/4 inch seam allowance (whether that is tape on your

throat plate or a presser foot), you will be more likely to see

when your sewing is accurate.

• If a seam is longer than 2 to 3 inches, pin along the

seam before you sew -- not just at the beginning or the end. That

will stabilize the fabrics, and you will be more likely to sew

both fabrics an even 1/4 inch away from the edge.

• When sewing angled, pointed pieces (such as diamonds or

triangles), start with the wide end first. That way, the skinny

tip is less likely to get eaten by the feed dogs (after all, they

are pretty hungry).

• When beginning chain sewing, start with a scrap of fabric,

and then add your first pair of patches after you sew through the

scrap. Continue sewing the patches in the chain, and then add the

scrap as the last piece in your chain. That way, you always have

a scrap ready to begin a new chain.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

TheQuiltingCoach