Sewing Machine Seam Allowance Guide

Seam allowance guides help you maintain consistent stitching in your sewing machine projects.

Keeping seams even and straight is necessary when sewing. Just one seam wider than the others skews the fit of clothing or the appearance of a craft. Seam allowance guides help keep the stitching consistent. While most machines can be set to sew a stitch a certain length, it is up to the user to keep the seams straight and the same width from the edge. Various items can be used for seam allowance guides.

The Throat Plate

The throat plate is a handy seam allowance guide because it is already attached to the machine.

One way to maintain a consistent seam allowance is to use markings on your machine's throat plate as a guide.The throat plate is the silver colored plate under the needle on your sewing machine. Notice that it has markings to the right side. These marks are usually engraved lines. Use the engraved lines as a visual guide as you sew. Keep the edges of fabric lined up with the engraved line of your choice.

The Presser Foot

The presser foot holds the fabric under the needle and can be used as a seam allowance guide.

When the throat plate lines do not match up with the seam allowance you need to create, try using the edge of the presser foot as the guide. Many crafters choose to line the fabric's edge up with the right edge of the presser foot. This is an easy choice, since the presser foot is already in use. Using the presser foot is helpful in sewing 1/8-inch seam allowances since the foot's edge is narrow.

Seam Allowance Attachment

There are seam allowance guides that attach to your sewing machine. Some attach to the needle area. These work fine, but it is always best to test the seam allowance width before each project to determine whether or not the attachment needs adjusting. A guide is only accurate if it is attached appropriately. Stay away from magnetic guide attachments. The machine's vibration can bounce magnetic guides off course, leaving you with a seam allowance nightmare.

A Favorite Home Remedy

Painter's tape comes in many easy to see colors that can help keep your seams straight.

Painter's tape makes a great seam allowance guide. If you have trouble seeing the small engraved lines on your machine's throat plate, try smoothing a 1-inch wide piece of painter's tape on it. Another plus is that you can extend the painter's tape longer than the small engraved lines. Stitch a sample to determine where your fabric's edge must be to get the desired seam width, then mark it on the plate with the tape.

References

• How to Quilt: Sewing Accurate Seam Allowances, Penny Halgren
• The Art of Quiltmaking; Harriet Hargrave and Sharyn Squier Craig; p. 41-42