press seams open or to the side?
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 4
press seams open or to the side?
I've found the forum info very valuable. I've been sewing for years but recently have gotten back into quilting. I have a LOT to learn. I did a block of the month where some of the seams were pressed to the side and some were pressed open. Now I was on a quilt shop site about longarm quilting and they said "don't press seams open because the needle on the machine is large and might cut your threads".
So......press seams open or to the side and
The quilt top that I just finished with the seams pressed open , can it be quilted using a long arm.
Thanks
So......press seams open or to the side and
The quilt top that I just finished with the seams pressed open , can it be quilted using a long arm.
Thanks
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,535
Welcome from Ontario, Canada. I generally press to the side. Occasionally there are patterns where a lot of seams meet in the middle and I will press the last seam open. You would need to ask your longarmer if she prefers seams to the side or open.
#3
Same here. To the side unless there's a lot of bulk and then I press open. I did a whole quilt with the seams pressed open once and felt hinky about it the whole time. I just feel better pressing to the side.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,029
I generally press to the side, but not when doing English paper piecing by hand.
Honestly I think you need to consider how it is going to be quilted -- by hand? Because if you press open, you can't stitch-in-the-ditch because you could break the sewing threads. And you have to be careful with the quilting patterns you pick.
As long as you plan it out, you should be okay either way!
Honestly I think you need to consider how it is going to be quilted -- by hand? Because if you press open, you can't stitch-in-the-ditch because you could break the sewing threads. And you have to be careful with the quilting patterns you pick.
As long as you plan it out, you should be okay either way!
#6
I would do whatever the pattern calls for. I would think the lomgarmer would just adjust the quilting style depending on what you do. If they are new to longarming maybe they are just not comfortable tackling that project and don't waant to ruin the quilt
#7
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
This will largely depend on your longarmer and what kind of LA quilting you want done. If you do an all over end to end design then your pressed open seams shouldn't present a problem. But if you want custom quilting with stitch in the ditch to emphasize your piecing then it will be a bit problematic for you longarmer. What most of us (longarmers) do in a case like yours is not quilt in the ditch but a thread or two over to the side of the ditch. Technically when you press seams open there is no ditch (ie a low side of the joining seam). For the most part this will still give the quilt the desired look but if you intend to put it in a show then it could cost you points.
Then there is the option of doing a custom quilting with no ditch work, in which case your pressed open seams will not present a problem.
Most longarm quilters are flexible and strive to give you the look you want without compromising the integrity of the piecing.
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,391
I do both. Whatever the seams wants to do is how I press it. Sometimes I don't off set, sometimes I have opposite seams on both ends. I let the seam twist in the middle. I've never had a problem with machine quilting no matter how the seams are pressed. I haven't noticed any needle holes or skipped stitches. I do stitch in the ditch with open seams. No one has ever said I noticed you did SITD with open seams, even in judged shows. I guess it's what you do with what you have the way you want to do it.
#9
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
I do both. Whatever the seams wants to do is how I press it. Sometimes I don't off set, sometimes I have opposite seams on both ends. I let the seam twist in the middle. I've never had a problem with machine quilting no matter how the seams are pressed. I haven't noticed any needle holes or skipped stitches. I do stitch in the ditch with open seams. No one has ever said I noticed you did SITD with open seams, even in judged shows. I guess it's what you do with what you have the way you want to do it.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,256
If the pattern includes pressing directions, I'll follow those. Many modern patterns will specify pressing open, while more traditional patterns will have pressing to the side. Pressing to the side allows seams to nest; I have fewer unmatched seams when pressing to the side. Sometimes I'll combine both in one kind of unit, for example, pressing the final seam of an hourglass unit open so it lies flatter. I like the sturdier look and feel pressing to the side gives to the back of the quilt top.
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