Quilt Anatomy
Seam Allowance
The strip of fabric between the cut edge and the stitching line.
The seam allowance is the distance between the raw cut edge of fabric and the sewn seam line. In quilting, a precise quarter-inch seam allowance is standard. Even small deviations — an extra 1/16 inch — compound across many seams and cause blocks to come out the wrong size. Many quilters use a quarter-inch presser foot to maintain consistency. After sewing, the seam allowance is usually pressed to one side (toward the darker fabric) or pressed open to reduce bulk.
Related Terms
Quarter-Inch FootA sewing machine presser foot precisely sized to guide fabric at an exact quarter-inch seam allowance.PressingUsing an iron to set seams after sewing, either to one side or open, for a flat, accurate quilt top.Nesting SeamsPressing opposing seams in adjacent rows in opposite directions so they interlock perfectly when sewn together.
Practice makes perfect.
NiftyFifty connects quilters from all 50 states through block swaps, bees, and quilt-alongs. Great place to put new techniques to work.