New Notions: How to Use the Ideal Seam Gauge and Ideal Seam Guides | Shabby Fabrics

Join Jen as she shares how to use the Ideal Seam Gauge and the Ideal Seam Guide. Set your seam allowance accurately and consistently with ease! Simply drop the machine needle into any one of the 10 seam width holes and square up your Ideal Seam Guide. Remove the Ideal Seam Gauge and you are ready to sew so straight! This may well become one of the most valuable sewing tools you possess!
#shabbyfabrics #quilting #sewing
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NOTIONS USED IN THIS VIDEO
- Ideal Seam Gauge: www.shabbyfabr...
- Ideal Seam Guide - 5": www.shabbyfabr...
- Ideal Seam Guide - 10": www.shabbyfabr...
- Super Easy Seam Guide Setter with Six Guides: www.shabbyfabr...
- Guidelines Seam Guides ½" x 2": www.shabbyfabr...
- Cluck Cluck Sew Diagonal Seam Tape: www.shabbyfabr...
- Shop Stocking Stuffers: www.shabbyfabr...
- Shop Gifts Under $35: www.shabbyfabr...
- Check out all our sewing notions here: www.shabbyfabr...
- Click here for Free Tutorials and Downloads: www.shabbyfabr...
- We're sewing on a BERNINA 770 QE and we love it!
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[@grandmajuki]

of all the videos on youtube yours is the best for this tool... If you lower your food it does hold theseam guage down.Thanks

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Happy that you found us and that this tutorial has helped you! Thanks for your suggestion and comment! - Abby

[@51cece]

Thanks for these videos! I was told in my new machine class to use the needle position one increment to get a scant quarter inch.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We are happy that you are enjoying our videos! Thank you for your comment! - Abby

[@reneesmith2665]

This is the first notion actually helped me sew a scant 1/4" seam. I am a beginner and have been struggling with seam allowances. I bought all three and I truly recommend this product.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're happy you enjoy it! Thanks for your comment!! -Michelle

[@SharonCarbine]

Fabulous demonstration about how to use the Ideal Seam Gauge, Jen. I have had this for years but never fully understood how to use it. Now, I can use it confidently. Big smile. Thank you!!!

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're happy this tutorial inspires you. Thanks for watching!! 💖 -Michelle

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

Wish you would try the magnetic one that your fabric goes under a little tab? It is advertised all over.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Maybe that will be a future notion we will have. Thank you for your comment! - Abby

[@gerierwin6000]

Great series. Thank you.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for watching! -Michelle

[@debpangle9964]

What a great product! 😁. Thank you for sharing! 💛🌻💛

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're glad you like it!! Thank you for your comment. 💖 -Michelle

[@nylirama]

I lower the presser foot over the seam gauge so it doesn't move once I feel it is straight.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

That's good advice :) Thanks so much for watching. -Michelle

[@bonnieambrose6569]

Thanks Jen. Always love your reviews!

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're happy you enjoyed this one. Thanks for your comment! 💖 -Michelle

[@marybrunart]

Wow! Great tools! Thanks for sharing :)

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're happy you like this one! 💖 -Michelle

[@kathieheath8716]

Great series - thanks. I have some of these tools and they are great, except for the Ideal Seam Guide. In theory, it’s a great idea, but the adhesive did not stick for very long, no matter what I did. Also - I didn’t like it at all on my machine that has a top loading bobbin.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Thank you very much for this feedback! 💖 -Michelle

[@stitcherscottage]

Wow….great item. And as always, a great video.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Glad you enjoy it! Thank you for watching! -Michelle

[@rhondaschellin8878]

😲WOWZERS! This is SO cool!!😎 The biggest thing in quilting is to be able to sew accurate 1/4" seams!

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're glad you enjoy this fun notion! 💖 -Michelle

[@bevdixon9615]

Thank you for sharing these products. I hope to order some soon.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're glad this tutorial has inspired you. Thanks for watching! 💖 -Michelle

[@Lsutube963]

I think you might have just taught me something else! Please explain why you use a scant quarter and a full quarter inch seam for flannel and batik. Why do the two fabrics need a different allowance? Thanks much. P.s. my husband says he could have a new boat if I would just stay out of your shopping cart. Ha

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Great question! We use a scant 1/4" for cotton because of the thickness of the fabric when it is pressed to one side. Batik presses much flatter, so a regular 1/4" seam allowance is fine. On Flannel the fabric is a looser weave, and a full 1/4" (along with a reduced stitch length) needs to be taken here, even though the fabric is thicker. Hope this helps! -Michelle

[@mariajeannotte5088]

So interesting!

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're glad you enjoyed this tutorial. Thanks for watching!! 💖 -Michelle

[@marilynporemba6188]

I use the 1/4 inch presser foot with the guide and I also use pins to hold my fabric. Can you still use pins if you use these seam guides?

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Yes! You can use pins with this. Just make sure to pull them out before your pins hit the seam guide. Hope this helps. -Kristen

[@prank654]

I have a couple of the ideal seam guides and adhesive does not work after a few uses. I clean them according to the directions and nothing changes,they still don’t stick.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Oh, wow! This has not been our experience with using them, but we will certainly keep an eye out. Thank you for the feedback. -Michelle

[@michelleherman5298]

I have that and now I know how to use it lol! Thank you for these videos!

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Woohoo! We're glad you enjoyed this tutorial!! 💖 -Michelle

[@joyscranfield5527]

I bought the ideal seam guage, had to instructions with it but I figured it out & it worked good...grandson broke a corner off of it acting goofy! But it still works!

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're glad you're enjoying this seam gauge! Thanks for commenting! -Michelle

[@meezcat3]

I have one of these. The adhesive doesn’t stick after a number of uses. I called the company and complained. She asked me if I cleaned it. I said of course, several times. She had no remedy for me, and I don’t think she cared. I bought it in a quilt shop and it was expensive. NOT happy.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Thank you very much for sharing your story with us. This has not been our experience, but we will definitely be more aware. Thank you. 💖 -Michelle

[@denveringram2304]

I use a lego with some double stick tape on the bottom. If you are sewing thick fabrics, like layers of denim, just stack two or more legos together. The long edge of the LEGO is parallel to the right side of the presser foot. If the sticky wears out, it’s easy to replace it. And you can transfer it from one machine to another as needed. Most often I have the legos situated just in front of the foot, but for wide seams, it can be situated to the side of the foot and it’s easy to build a guide that goes behind the foot if you need that. The height of the stacked legos makes a nice “wall” to guide your fabric through the machine. Hope this helps. Different things work for different people.

[@meezcat3]

@@denveringram2304 Thanks for this idea. I got one lego at a flea market today and will try it. But since I already put out the $30 for the failed seam guide, why couldn’t I try the double stick tape on that?

[@denveringram1415]

@@meezcat3 you could. I like the Lego’s because it gives me thickness or height to butt my fabric against. If the guide you purchased gives you that, you should be golden. Or maybe you don’t need the height. I share your frustration for expensive notions that are dedicated to one thing that work poorly or for a limited time. I’ve seen sewing ledges built out of masking tape, painters tape, even duct tape. They work just fine and are made from items you already have on hand. Even a bunch of post it notes. These items have other uses in your home and if it turns out that they don’t work on your machine for a sewing purpose, at least they can serve another duty in your home. But if they do work at your sewing machine, you’ve gained functionality without adding expense. I try hard not to accumulate notions. I’m not a minimalist by any means. But I want things that can be used across a spectrum of uses and if some of those uses are away from sewing, I like it even better. I want my tools and notions to be used, handy, and be easy to store when not in use. Some things are specific to sewing, but I’m always looking for a way to extend a tool that I already have as opposed to buying something for one purpose. I just hate that you spent $30 for something that isn’t working for you. But you can’t know until you try, so I don’t fault you at all. Sometimes when an item is hyped up, I’m leery and look in other directions for an on-hand substitute. With the legos, I was successful at finding a cheap work around. If a notion is specific to one purpose, I have to get a lot of use out of it to make it feel worthwhile. Double stick tape is great, but last night I just used a loop of painters tape to adhere my Lego ledge to the bed of my coverstitch machine. It worked perfectly for me. All the best to you. I hope you find something that actually serves you well. Denver

[@meezcat3]

@@denveringram1415 Thanks Denver. This tool was great in theory but it has the flaw. Maybe the tape will fix the flaw. I’ll also try the lego. I don’t go overboard on notions either. The 1/4 inch is hard to maintain without extreme concentration and I have had some gadgets over the many years (40 plus) of quilting promising success. I keep thinking the technology will catch up but this didn’t. Looking forward to trying your ideas!

[@cindyzelinske8637]

Loved this series! Great tools to help with accurate seams. I would be interested in tips and tools on accurately snowballing corners and diagonal seams. I’m not a fan of drawing a diagonal line on the back of every block.

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We're glad you've been finding these videos helpful. For snowballs, have you seen our video on the Folded Corner Clipper Tool? www.shabbyfabrics.com/free-downloads-and-video/189/creative-grids-folded-corner-clipper-tool -Michelle

[@dianevessels2632]

What is the iron you are using?

[@ShabbyFabrics]

We are using the Panasonic 360° Freestyle Cordless Iron. You can shop it here on our website: www.shabbyfabrics.com/c5402/quilting-notions/panasonic-irons Hope this can help and thanks for your comment! - Abby

[@8machines62]

It is difficult to get a scant quarter on a Bernina withou some sort of a marking. They do have a bar that can be put on the side of the machine with a screw. The Juki does a great quarter!

[@ellenspence3291]

are they on the web site? love this. yor tips are always great and easy to follow. thanks hugs suzanne

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Hi Ellen - You can shop the Ideal Seam Gauges and Guide here: www.shabbyfabrics.com/search?sortOrder=6&q=ideal+seam 💖 -Michelle

[@sarahhoffman2909]

My machine has a round head screw in the plate so tool does not stick flat very disappointed. Stickiness doesn’t last

[@ShabbyFabrics]

Thank you very much for the feedback. We'll keep our eye on this. 💖 -Michelle