Welcome to the Quilting Board!
I recently began work on a churn dash blocks and read somewhere to press the seams open; I have done so and completed most of my blocks. Now I read that I should press the seams toward the dark fabric or away from the center. Will I be okay with the seams pressed open? I don't think I have the energy to make changes required to change what I have already done.
Haha, there is no "right" way. If it looks good, you did it right.
Pressing to the dark side was the traditional way. The quilt seams were done this way because they were stronger when piecing was done by hand. Now that we sew and quilt by MACHINE it is not necessary.
Thanks for this info!! I've been wondering about the differences for a while, and am glad to know now!!
Originally Posted by Tartan
"Some people have bunches of WIPs (works in progress) and UFOs (unfinished objects)....I prefer to think of them as PhDs (Projects Half Done)!!" ~Elena Boen
"Just keep in mind that your function here is to have fun and not to be someone else's interior decorator! So ... go forth and have fun!" ~Krystyna
I cannot count my day complete 'til needle, thread and fabric meet.
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.
Same here. I think it makes the seam lines so much sharper, and I can attest to the fact that it is easier to quilt without those bulky seams, especially at seam intersections.
jlm5419-an Okie back in Oklahoma!
http://according-to-ginger.blogspot.com/
I just started to press seams open, and I like the effect very much. The seams are flatter which is not only nicer looking, but will be easier to be quilted. Not only that, but my machine likes it better since it doesn't like to over very think seams when putting the blocks together. I have even considered to make the seams wider than 1/4 inch! I just have to research why the 1/4 inch seam is used. Yes, you save some on fabric, but I would like to have a little extra fabric on each side of the stitching.
I have done it for the same reason...but..my problem is that the ends start to pull apart. No matter how careful I am..most often by the time I get to piecing it..the ends are a little pulled apart/open when I press the seams open. Does this not happen to you? If not, is there something you do to prevent it? I can see a quick back stitch but at the same time... I have never heard of anyone doing that.
Try to reduce your stitch length. I use 1.8 for piecing. It's tight enough that the seams
won't get undone and long enough for the seam ripper when needed.
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!
MacThayer
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote