Sew Smarter With Janome: How To Perfect Your 1/4" Seam 

This is a great tutorial. I never could understand the scant. Thank you so much .

I love my HP foot and use it all the time for piecing, however…I started making a Dresden plate quilt the other day and pressed my seams open, in order to obtain a flatter plate, but, to my dismay, the plate would not lie flat at all. Realising that my seam was too scant, I had to test another plate using my normal “O” or 1/4” foot and then pressed to the side. This time my plate was perfect so “ once in a blue moon” a scant 1/4” is not always the perfect choice and one has to be willing and aware to test it out! Thank you for such excellent video content☺️😊I always really enjoy your clear, concise teaching.

Thanks for this explanation- I will be saving all of this great information ! And can't wait to try making all my samples and getting the 1/4" seam accurate !

That was great! Running to call and order my new feet !

Thank you so much for this video! I struggle so much with my scant 1/4" on my M7. I cannot wait to try this tomorrow!!! This was a great video! ❤

The HP needle plate and foot is one of my favorite feature on my 6700P. When I bought it in 2018, i was debating between a straight stitch and a « normal » machine! The 6700P has it all!

I am a quilter "want to be"! Trying to get started on my learning journey. Very informative video, answered many questions I have pondered.

Hi Kimberly! So great to see you again! You are my FAVORITE teacher - clear, thorough and understandable! I look forward to each video. Thank you for sharing!

Your tutorial & voice is so mesmerizing and educational. Your website popped up on my laptop while watching U Tube. My sewing table crashed & destroyed my Janome 9900 two years ago. I loved my Janome & tried not to cry listening to your presentation. I had to settle for a Bothers and it is not in the same classification. I am retired on a fixed budget or I would have purchased another Janome. Anyone reading this, if you have funds, buy a Janome, engineering is Mercedes classification. ❤

Great tutorial. Makes so much sense! I do so much better when I understand the “why”. Thank you! 😊

Great video and I’m obsessed with the cupboards behind you and all that lovely fabric 🥰

Thank you Kimberly 🪡🧵

What an excellent tutorial. I learned so much and you helped me make up my mind as to which Janome I am going to buy. Thank you so much.

Late catching up with your video, I use the HP foot and plate on my 6700p for all my piecing, it's a game changer. Thank you for a great video.

Thank you so much, this has been most helpful! I’ve been a Janome user for an embarrassing amount of time but hadn’t ever thought to actually move the needle position up to 9 to achieve that ‘scant’ seam. I’ve usually just ‘eye balled’ the fabric by moving it slightly left on the O foot edge. Just when you think you know all there is to know about how to achieve the perfect scant seam, there’s still more to learn.

Wonderful explanation for the scan 1/4. I enjoy all your tutorials. Thank you.

This was fantastic! I have been struggling with consistent 1/4 inch seam. Appreciate you doing this video….. keep them coming please!

Great helpful tutorial Kimberly. Thank you 🇦🇺

This was fantastic! I love, love, love your explanation of how to get a scant 1/4". And then to add to it with the different feet. I am definitely going to check out the (1) that I do not have! I love my Janome M 17 so much! A lot to learn, but what a beautiful machine to have to learn it on! Thank you so much.

You’re amazing! I’ve really missed your Facebook live presentations and “Done before dinner” projects.

Great tutorial.

Very helpful video! I’m a beginning quilter and I’ve been struggling with that 1/4 inch seam.

Thanks will try this

I have the Janome 9450 (about 2 yrs) and tried the HP2 foot and plate before without success. Watching your video, I will try using the HP2 foot and plate again to get that perfect 1/4" seam. Thank you for sharing! I enjoy watching your videos, I learn so much.

I have the 15000. I can definitely use these suggestions! Most of these I have never heard of! Thank you very much!

Loved this and learned so much, thank you!

Thank you! I recently acquired a Skyline5 machine and cant wait to test this out.

thankyou ,great detail

That was very informative. I did not have a very good instructor when I bought my Skyline S9 (5 months ago) so it has been great to watch these videos and get up to speed.

Great video, thank you for all the information. I have a Janome 9400 and I love using the HP foot for piecing. Also love to use the HP2 foot for binding.

This has been so helpful. Although I use some of these tips and tricks, I did learn something new.

Great video. Good to see you. I agree with you about the HP foot. I had put together rail fence strips, only to find out they were too narrow when I went to cut the 6 1/2 squares. Switched to the HP foot and sure enough, the strips were perfect. Keep these informative videos coming. Thank you.

GREAT show!!! learned a lot.

Thank you sooo much. This video has just solved many quilting mysteries for me and my 6700P!

Thank you this has help.😊

Thank you. Your explanation and demonstrations were outstanding. You articulated the reasons and results of using a variety of feet and machine settings in a clear, direct and easily understood manner. I hope to see you at Linda Z’s very soon. I’m enjoying using your rulers and instructions I received there and have finished one of the 2 projects we worked on!

Thank you so much for this wonderful Explanations! I’m having big problems with my MC8200QCP! But now I will try your tips! 😊

Thank you. That was very informative 😊

Thank you so much! I had no idea about the HP plate! Guess what I'm doing tomorrow? You are so helpful and video was professionally demonstrated.

I like to piece with the straight stitch needle plate, so I use the Janome foot (didn't come with machine) with the black tab on it, simply abut the fabric along the black tab and it's a perfect scant 1/4 inch, with the straight stitch needle plate.

Totally understanding this concept, thank you for the information. This will make a huge improvement on my piecing.

Very good explanation of the feet.

Excellent video.

Wow. Had no idea on the hp foot. Sweet.

I'm an experienced sewer/quilter. I have a 3 Janome machines and only one of them has a true "scant " 1/4 inch. My Skyline 5, and I've done the Auto Mode 1 06 for 1/4 inch and the 8.3 default, then moved it to the 9.0. It is still not a scant 1/4", it's larger. I've been playing with this for 9 months! My MC 4800 I throw on the 1/4" foot, move my needle over to 4.0 (1 Position from default) and BANG, it's perfect. On my Skyline 5, I now have to use seam guide tapes/ledges, then when I need a new bobbin, I have to remove and start this aligning process over. I sew every day. At the end of the day I wish I could save my settings in memory so I can just turn it on and my own personal default is there. Maybe that feature should be in the next upgrade, a personal user setting.

such a fantastic tutorial. I have a MC 6600 an old Janome and I dont imagine I could use any of these feet with it. I have the O foot with the guide. I was pleased to see you share that you use a 2.4 or 2.5 length stitch, as when I piece using anything else the stitches are extremely uneven. I am from New Zealand, and follow these Janome tutorials all the time. thank you.

Thank you!

I'm on a 12000, and for 10+ years I've used the 8.7 and 1.80 and still haven't perfected the sa. OMG what a thrill to see you, Kimberly, explain the Janome way. TY TY TY need to find the book to set this default.

This really helped me a lot! The Janome manual is horrible and very hard to figure out! Videos really help. Thank you.

Most of the time, consistency is better than perfection. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Thank you

This video was great. I didn't know about the marking ms on the machine.

The M7 is amazing and that HP2 foot!

The HP foot is my favorite for many piecing projects.

I have the M 7 and my faithful 8900. The HP foot is interchangeable with the 8900…and yes it’s a game changer for the scant 1/4”. I’ve picked up more info from this video - thank you 😊

Thank you for a great video. I need to buy the HP foot and plate and the cloth guide.

I find using the HP foot works for me to get the stitch.

Great tutorial! How to save favorite stitch?

My block lotto blocks thank you! I’ve been fighting my 9450’s hp plate / scant quarter foot combo because it looked too small. 🤦‍♀️ Now that you’ve provided the zoomed-in ruler views, I know my mistake. Thank you!

8.6 is my sweet spot and 2.0 stitch length

Love the color of your mat. Where can i get one?

Great Tutorial! How to save favorite stitch? Thanks

Why doesn’t Janome tell us this in the instructions? Or, better yet…..why not make a REAL scant quarter inch foot? I have a MC 7700QPC and love it! I can move my needle but nowhere does it tell me a number. So how do I know what needle position 9.0 looks like?

You should still check your piecing units every step along the way. Your settings only take you so far and different cotton and how flat you are able to press also can make a huge difference. Plus, let’s face it, some days our precision at maintaining that straight line or starting exactly at the right spot when sewing angles can be off a thread or two. If you really want precision piecing you have to slow down and check your work regularly. I do wish Janome would support their loyal customers who spent their money on a Janome machine that wasn’t a top of the line machine and include the lower level machines in these demos. There are a lot more people out there coping without all of the bells and whistles. How about serving them as well? I know they want to sell more machines, but if the help is only for the latest and greatest, when someone IS ready to buy another machine, if they hadn’t gotten the support they needed with their previous machines, why stick with Janome, who left them hanging?

Really enjoyed your video. I have a couple of questions. I have the Janome 9480. Would the cloth quide you demo fit on this machine. And would it work with the accufeed 1/4 inch foot.

A great presentation. My question is: I have a 7700 and, whilst you say these tips can be used on all Janome's, can these work on my 7mm machine? Also, can i use the HP2 foot and plate. Thank you so much.

How does thread 50, 40 etc impact seam bulk. What thread are you using in this video?

I have an M7. With the HP foot and the HP plate, do I engage the Accufeed motor by pressing the yellow button? I use that yellow button with the AD foot but I’m not sure when to use it.

I can't adjust my needle on my sewing machine. I have janome 3128. I'm looking to upgrade because I can't sew big quilts on it because I can't drop the feed dogs to do free motion quilting to not enough throat space.

I have a janome 9450 . Can the cloth guide you demonstrated work on my 9450?

What if your Janome machine is 30 yrs old. It still runs great but, is limited. How do I get a scant quarter inch seam?

Hi Kim, I have a Janome memory Craft 6500 which was a gift in 2004 from my husband. I thought the 1/4 foot would help. needle to a 9.0? I ve always had trouble getting the correct quarter inch stitch. Do I need a new machine-I really love my machine Help me to find a 9.0 quarter inch stitch since I would love to get a scant quarter in right. Thanks for any help Kim

I have the 3160. The default stitch position is 3.5. I move it to 4 for scant quarter inch. Is this correct? My blocks are still a little small.....

How do you save your favorite needle position once you figure it out?

Is there a way on the M6 to save the needle position?

The Janome 1600P does not have an adjustable needle position. Is there a perfected scant 1/4” foot for the 1600P?

Neither of my 2 Janomes allow me to adjust the needle position so interested how to get a scant quarter without moving the needle... Hoping Janome would create a scant quarter foot with guide...

I adore my Janome but it only has 2 needle positions. She's a lil antiquated like me. 😁

Do you still need to change the needle position when using the HP foot and HP plate?

I have a janome 6600p i am confused where to a do quarter inch scant 😮

I did not know you can move the needle position, how do you do it?

Which machine is in the video please? Did you say CM17?

How do you do that on a janome 3160qdc-t

How do you set the settings on the Janome 4120?

I understand wanting perfection in your quilt blocks, but if you used the same setting and foot and needle position on all the blocks in your quilt, wouldn’t the quilt come out correct?

I’m not saying that this video is not educational; it is of course, and very well done ! But… all what is said here to get “perfect” blocks would be true only IF all fabrics used have exactly the same thickness, and all of them behave like a piece of paper, no stretching at all even on bias. Any real quilter knows that is impossible in reality, especially when using scraps or just various fabrics bought from different suppliers. Every fabric behave differently and it matters how is cut. Also, the thickness of the thread counts too. IMHO, it is more important to have all blocks the same size, to match when sewn together, than to have EXACTLY 9.5 block. From my experience, consistency is more important than precision, unless you make a quilt to be watched under microscope. I have a baby lock machine, and have several positions to move the needle, so this is not the only machine with this option. I use a scant 1/4 inch by moving the needle only when I snow ball, or I do a flying geese. But when doing regular piecing, I use the 1/4 pressing foot with guide and I might need to square the block a little bit after ironing. By the way, we all experienced what “tricks” ironing can play on fabric, especially when using steam. I don’t want to sound disrespectful with my comment, but I find many things exaggerated in these types of videos just to promote certain products, especially certain sewing machines and very “specialized” rulers. Quilting should be a relaxing and fun activity, not stressful and frustrating that we are not “perfect”. Happy quilting everyone 🥰

My Janome is a Memory Craft 6300 and does not have all those functions.

If 1/4" dosent give you correct measurements then is it the standard piecing still?

Most machines feet have different groves on the plate you're sewing on. So it's not an effort.

Oh good grief

good information but the background music is annoying