Jim: I was watching a video on line regarding the HP plate and foot and the person in the video said the foot does a scant 1/4 inch.
I thought this plate and foot does a 1/4 inch seam and not a scant 1/4 inch.  I went and looked at your video that Diane did for this
plate and foot and she doesn't mention anything about doing a scant 1/4 inch. Just a 1/4 inch. Correct?
Thanks
Julia

Where can I find the video of Diane's HP 1/4" foot & plate video?
Carole

https://youtu.be/FpXPdZAMx5A

Hi Julia, I’m not Jim or Diane but I do own the Continental M7 Professional Sewing machine and use the HP Plate and the AcuFlex HP2 foot most of the time when I’m doing ordinary sewing and quilting. I found that the foot gives me an exact 1/4” seam and depending where I put my “eye” at the edge of the fabric and IF I let it hang out a wee bit or have it flush with the foot makes the difference from a exact 1/4” seam of a scant 1/4”. I have a little yellow 60 degree ruler that has the 1/4” markings on each side - one being a scant 1/4”, the next a true 1/4” and then a +1/4” - this is what I use to find the exact measurement I need. However, there is only a thread or two space between each of them so if a strip sewn is 2” or more, I can always make them fit so that the corners or lines line up to the next piece I’m sewing. The larger the piece to be matched the easier it is to do that bit of stretch or ease for all to line up exactly. If I were you I wouldn’t worry to much about what the seam allowance is as it is to make sure that whatever you find the most comfortable to sew is always the same.

I think that sometimes we spend to much time worry about “what is a 1/4 inch” that we take the fun out of our sewing. Just be consistent and everything will work out in the end. I once may a 1/4” cutting mistake and I had sewed and stretched about 6 rows before disaster started to happen and I just couldn’t make that next row fit. It took me a while to establish “where” I’d gone wrong, and when I did, I fretted, then fixed the problem after using many not so nice “sewing” words and continued on. However, the quilt was never finished due to a different issue - it was a tumbling block quilt and I made it to wide and just never got the inspiration to add to the top or bottom a few extra rows so that the quilt would be balanced. The baby I was making it for is long past the crib that it was to go on and she was the last grand child has grown up to much for the quilt. I will finish it one day but not today.

Just practice sewing consistent seams with the HP system and you will be very happy. Happy Sewing.

Cheryl - Saskatoon

Thank you Cheryl. I was wondering why the opening is on the foot (what you may call the eye). I'm getting use to using the plate/foot for a project I'm working on. The pattern  called for scant 1/4" but I like how the foot and plate work so far (came with my machine) and will just do a 1/4". I could use other plates/feet to get the scant 1/4" but will stick with this for the time being. 
Julia

Hi Julia,

I’m glad you asked this question because as soon as I read Jim & Diane’s reply, I watched the video. It is so good to have these videos to refer to when we go to do a project and maybe have forgotten some little thing that make it easier to accomplish the task. I think the video was made using an embroidery - sewing combination machine as the fabric guide is moving automatically at a setting of the sewers choice, where as on the Continental M7 you would have to put the guide on and manually move it into position - no big deal. I have used mine, but found that it was in the way so much of the time that I just took it off and it is put in a safe place that I won’t remember if I ever want to use it, however, they are nice to have.

I have found that if I sew with the fabric at the very edge of the HP or HP2 foot that I get a very nice seam allowance for quilting. It is also good for my grandchildren when I have them sew something - that they can follow and understand very well and see what is happening. I also know that the fabric feeds very nicely through the machine and doesn’t move away from the foot, if I’ve lined everything up at the beginning. That is invaluable to the children when learning. The fact that you cannot choose stitches that would damage the machine is also wonderful - no mistakes to ruin anything when using this system.

Have fun with your new machine - I love mine and all my other Janome’s too. I have way to many and don’t sew enough.

Cheryl - Saskatoon