Sewing Tip Tuesday [ Seam Guide/Gauge ]

Let me start this post by saying, you really don't need any fancy gadgets or machinery to sew, which, in my opinion, is a wonderful thing.  A good ol' needle and thread... and patience, can take you far.  However, as in life, it is so nice when you do come across something that makes life easier; in my case, the Seam Guide Presser Foot that came with my Singer Sewing Machine.

This is by no means something you need to have, but oh how nice it is!

What does a Seam Guide do, you ask? Well, it guides your seams...  nice, smarty pants *wink*.  

A Seam Guide allows you set the seam width you're looking for, we'll say 1/8 inch; when you butt your fabric up to it as you sew, the guide ensures you are keeping with that 1/8in seam. Yippie, straight seams! It is also super fabulous for top stitching handbags! (Cough, Cough)

Straight Stitchin' = Neat and tidy edges

A guide can be purchased separately or one may already come with your machine.  You can get one that screws into the stitch plate of your machine, or one that comes on a presser foot (like mine).  As far as I know, both adjust with a dial, but don't necessarily come with measurements.  (This is where a small ruler is handy to have near your sewing space.)

In all honesty, I did not know I had a seam guide for a long time.  I would say that I was using my Singer for a good two years before I realized what that presser foot was for!  I'm all about getting something made using what I know how to work with and just taking it from there... why waste precious sewing time trying to figure out what that funky lookin' foot is for?! Ha!

The range, how large of a seam width you can stitch, isn't as far with the Seam Guide Presser Foot as I imagine it is with the kind that attaches to the stitch plate of the machine, but this is easily adjusted by using the little dial on the foot along with moving your machine's needle either to the left or right.

I now use my Seam Guide Presser Foot when I sew the finishing top stitch around my handbags, bag handles/straps, binding, for prepping blocks on a quilt with 1/4in seam allowances (because, let's face it, it's important to be precise with your seams when it comes to quilts, or the whole thing will come out wonky!), and when I'm adding embellishments where I need to stitch close to the edge of the fabric.  Keeping your lines straight is a huge factor when you want your end result to have a professional finish... even if you aren't in the biz, it's still nice to offer up a gift to someone that has them saying "You made that?!". *wink*

I used my Seam Guide, when stitching this strap,
 to stitch close to the edge of the fabric, to ensure professional results.

Here are some other handy tools that I ♥ because they make my sewing life a little easier!

XxOo~ Melissa