pressing seams open

**batikmystique** · 10-21-2012, 06:39 PM

Good info...thank you. I have traditionally pressed to the dark side but have never liked the bulkiness it creates at intersections of multiple pieces. Think I'll get out of my comfort zone next project and press the seams open and shorten my stitch length and machine quilt. May try a small project with seams open and hand quilt to see what happens.

Originally Posted by MacThayer

I also press my seams open, with the sole exception being when I know I'm going to SITD, which isn't all that often. I love the seams open because the quilt lies flatter. I do shorten my stitch length when I know the seams will be open and that helps a lot. However, when I come across a seam that is starting to open, I just dab a bit of "glue baste" on it and make sure it dries shut. That takes care of the problem! With the short stitches, I don't need to do this very often, and it makes more sense to me than trying to backstitch at every seam. That said, I will backstitch if I know there will be a lot of pressure on the seam.

I know! Long answer for a short question! LOL!

**karenpatrick** · 10-01-2012, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by NJ Quilter

I press seams open all the time, regardless of directions and/or block type. Not a problem in the least. I think it makes any block lay flatter and ultimately easier to quilt, either by hand or machine. Don't fret - it will be fine.

I agree with NJ Quilter. It really doesn't make any difference. I press all my seams open now. I don't have to worry when I put the blocks together which way the seams are pressed. I think they lay flatter, too.

**ckcowl** · 09-29-2012, 11:32 AM

one of the benifits to pressing to one side is nesting the seams so they match up- if you manage to match your seams with them pressed open they are fine- there is no right & wrong- just different- use what ever technique gives you the outcome you are looking for & don't worry about it. there is no reason to do over or change something just because someone recommends a different technique than what you have used.

**dgeskine** · 09-29-2012, 04:48 PM

Thank you all, ladies! I do remember it said something about the seams laying flatter if pressed open. On with my task!

**sandy l** · 09-30-2012, 02:59 AM

Since I use to make clothes, and seams were allways pressed open, when I started quilting I just kept pressing the block seams open.

**ptquilts** · 09-30-2012, 03:36 AM

I used to hand quilt for a quilt author/TV host and all her seams were pressed open. And her tops were pieced PERFECTLY.
I am afraid my seams get pressed "Whatever"!

**Lori S** · 09-30-2012, 05:26 AM

I am of the "press seams open" school. None of my quilts have had issues because I presses open. Go forth .. quilt/sew the way you want.

**lfletcher** · 09-30-2012, 05:42 AM

Some patterns do work better pressed open, but there is one concern. If you plan on stitching in the ditch when quilting, you will just be stitching over thread, not fabric. You could solve this by stitching slightly to one side of the ditch.

**busy fingers** · 09-30-2012, 12:57 PM

I think that is purely a personal choice. In my quilt group it is about half and half of "press open" "press to one side".

I press to one side but having said that when I did a patchwork binding recently on a tablerunner I did press the seams open to reduce the bulk in the binding.

**coffeebreak** · 10-01-2012, 08:56 AM

I like pressing open for all these same reasons, however...how do you all accomodate the seams starting to pull apart when the seams are pressed open?

Thread: pressing seams open

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Hybrid View

Posting Permissions