Edge Guide

One of the first things I noticed when I started making bags is that you regularly jump between 1/8", 3/8", 5/8" and 1/4" seam allowances. After years of quilting I know how to get a good 1/4" seam, but the other sizes left me challenged.

There is also a lot of top stitching with bag making (especially if you make your own handles) and I was having trouble getting perfectly straight, even seams, so what did I do? I created a tool!

Each notch on the Edge Guide Base is 1/8" so you can easily switch between 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 5/8" etc while sewing. You will be amazed at how much easier it is to have precise stitching with the Purple Hobbies Edge Guide.

The T-Bar has notches on it every 1/8" to make it easy to see when your fabric is exactly 1/4", 3/8", etc from the edge.

Special thanks to Robin and Inhye for helping to make this even better with their suggestions!

The Edge Guide tool comes with the following:

Edge Guide Base (with 1/8" increments for precise positioning)
2" T-Bar for sewing straight seams
Narrow Bar for sewing concave curves and straps
Spacer with a tiny hole in it to position your Edge Guide Base (I usually use the 1/4" side to position my Edge Guide Base)
6 reusable, residue free removable sticker dots (these are needed if your sewing machine doesn't have two accessory screw holes.)
Additional T-Bars available as a separate purchase

Here's a short video showing the Edge Guide tool in use:

Installation video for domestic sewing machines:

See the Edge Guide in use by Chris at Simply Classic:

Edge Guide Details and Installation

The tool was originally made for machines with two holes for attachments (many of the semi-industrial machines have two accessory screw holes and so do Featherweight machines.).

Below are some photos of using the Narrow Bar on my Baby Lock Accomplish 2:

Here is the Edge Guide on my Featherweight.

Notice that I put the screws on the top rather than on the bottom so that the T-Bar would fit nicely next to my 1/4 in foot. (I found the purple thumb screws online but you should be able to get thumb screws from your favorite Featherweight dealer.)

Installation

For machines with two accessory screw holes

Begin by removing the foot on your machine and unthread the needle.
Place the Spacer as shown in the first photo below and carefully insert your needle into the hole. (I like to use the 1/4" side but you can use any of the 4 sides that you prefer.)
Position the Edge Guide Base over the screw holes and partially insert the screws as pictured in the middle photo below. Make sure that the Edge Guide Base is just to the right of the sewing machine throat plate but not on top of it.
Put the T-Bar into the Edge Guide Base, sliding the base so that the T-Bar is flush against the Spacer as pictured on the right, below.)
Tighten the screws.
You are now ready to easily sew perfectly straight seams and topstitching!

For machines without two accessory screw holes

Begin by removing the foot on your machine and unthread the needle.
Place the Spacer as shown in the first photo below and carefully insert your needle into the hole. (I like to use the 1/4" side but you can use any of the 4 sides that you prefer.)
Put the T-Bar flush against the Spacer (this shows you where to position the Edge Guide Base).
Position three of the adhesive dots on the back of the Edge Guide Base
Remove the backing from the adhesive dots.
Position the Edge Guide Base onto the T-Bar and just to the right of the sewing machine throat plate but not on top of it. Press down to attach the adhesive dots to your sewing machine. (The adhesive dots are removable and reusable and do not leave any residue on your machine.)
You are now ready to easily sew perfectly straight seams and topstitching!

Note that there is a release lever under the Edge Guide Base on my sewing machine. No worries! When you need to release the lever, simply twist the Edge Guide Base to remove it from the sewing machine bed. The adhesive discs will release without leaving any residue. When you are ready to use your Edge Guide again repeat the installation steps (in most cases you can reuse the adhesive dots).

Additional adhesive dots are available on my website and at most craft supply stores and major online retailers.

Designed and manufactured in the USA by Purple Hobbies LLC.