Thread: pressing seams open???

I'm making a baby quilt with a large pieced tractor...[36x 42]..on the front of the quilt. It calls to press open the seams, I have always pressed to the dark side in all my other quilts..

I'm having a problem with pressing the seams open and I keep burning my finger, is there some secret to pressing seams open? It is taking me so long to run my finger into the seam while I press it, sometimes it does not press it flat and have to go back and press some more and then I sometimes burn my finger..GRRRRR

anybody know of a faster way to press these seams open without burning your finger and going a little faster, it is driving me crazy.. Maybe someone has a easier way to do this.. Thanks

I have a little wooden thing I got from Eleanore Burns web site. I use it first then press the seams with my iron. Its called a wooden iron, but does not look like an iron. It really works!!

Originally Posted by woody

I have seen this http://www.thestripstick.com/ and am going to make one for the next time I make a OBW which needs all the seams pressed open.

I have a set of these and they are GREAT. I totally recommend them.

I hated pressing seams open for all the same reasons as you, quiltlady. I tried the silicone finger guards (just made me clumsy). I tried the wooden pressing stick (was a hassle and nothing stayed flat). I tried finger-pressing (worked, but tedious and slow and still needed heat-pressing after). These strip sticks are such a simple thing but they made me go from absolutely hating to press seams open to being totally OK with pressing seams open. I can't say I ENJOY it, but I'm a lot less annoyed and scorched when I do it now!

I was going to make my own but then I think Nancy's Notions had them on sale and I bought them. So glad I did, otherwise I'd still be "going to make them". I got 3 sizes and I use all three of them all the time. One of my best "bang-for-the-buck" notion purchases I've made!

I just lay them under the seam and quickly run my fingers down the sides of the stick to flatten the fabric against it. The seams naturally part open a little bit, enough that I can nudge the tip of my iron between them and then it's easy to just press down on the seam. That opens up the next section a little more...move iron over, press again. Goes quick and easy and my fingers get nowhere near the iron plate. And the seams STAY flat. Brilliant!

Edit to add: just re-read my post and figured I better add - I'm not associated with the company that makes these in any way, just a happy customer.

I have the strip stick, and it works well in pressing seams open. Here is a technique I learned in a class...set the seam, then open the beginning of the seam, press an inch or so, LIFT UP THE SEAM SLIGHTLY and continue to press the seam open. Works great every time.

another tip - press seam flat, then open up and press to one side as you usually do, then press open. I know it's three steps, but in the end it is a lot less hassle than fighting that seam open.