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10 tips for pressing

10 tips for pressing

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Old 09-05-2008, 03:59 PM
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1. Press don't iron. Do not wiggle your iron around it will stretch and distort your fabric. Pressing means picking up the iron off the fabric and putting it back down each time you move.

2. Set your seams just as it was sewn do not open or move seams yet. This helps sink the stiches into the fabric , and lessens the bulk when opened.

3. Let the fabric cool in place before moving to prevent distortion of bias edges.

4. Finger press first it is temporary and good if you are not sure which way the seam will eventually be pressed.

5. Avoid seeing seam shadows. Generally press towards the dark. If pressing to the lighter fabric trim the darker fabric seam allowance by 1/16 after seam is sewn to prevent any shadows.

6. If a seam has been pressed the wrong way , return to unpreesed state and start over. Wait before it cools to move the seam the other way.

7. When there are several seams meeting , press them open. Distributes the bulk and makes it easier to quilt.

8. To prevent from smashing your applique turn it face down on a terry cloth before pressing.

9. Straight seams should be pressed from the right side of fabric with the iron parallel to the straight grain. Helps from you getting tucks and pleats in the seam.

10.A bias seam should be pressed with the iron at a 45 degree angle to the seam and along the straight of grain to prevent distortion. God to use this methond when pressing 1/2 square triangles.

Hope this tips help. I need to be more careful when I press :!: :!: :roll: :oops: :lol: :shock: :( :?
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Old 09-05-2008, 06:09 PM
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steam or no steam?
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Old 09-05-2008, 06:20 PM
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i most definitely IRON vs. PRESS...need to PRESS not IRON!!!
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Old 09-05-2008, 08:38 PM
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Great tips Bebe. Thanks for the reminders!
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Old 09-05-2008, 09:15 PM
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Thanks, Bebe. I never knew why I was supposed to set seams.
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Old 09-06-2008, 03:51 AM
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No steam it stretches fabric. That is my opinion.
The only time I use steam is when I am pressing my yardage fabric because I left it in the dryer to long and has many wrinkles that will not come out.
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Old 09-06-2008, 04:22 AM
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Thanks for the tips! This is one area that I could use some work on.
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Old 09-06-2008, 04:37 AM
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Thanks Bebe! Pressing makes a huge differance in the results of your piecing.
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Old 09-06-2008, 05:03 AM
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great tips, bebe! thanks for sharing!!
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Old 09-06-2008, 05:05 AM
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we had a steam/no steam thread not too long ago....it varies like the prewash/no prewash....I think it's how we were originally taught and personal preference.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/7830.page
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