i press open all the time. have been for years. depends on the design and which will be easier to match and lay flatter. There is no "authorized" way.

when i started quilting i came from garment making. i automatically opened every seam. since the seams are stitched on top of by machine, i think they're strong enough not to ravel even if they should by some chance pop. my clothing seams don't pop and they get a lot more movement so why would my quilt seams pop?

i don't like the way corners bunch up when i press to one side, even if you twist the corners (what's that all about?). i had black and blue thumbs from twisting a 100 x 100 quilt and it was no flatter than opening the seams. it fact, you end up with exactly the same number of thicknesses.

To slow up the wear and tear on my quilting machine I decided to open ALL seams with a wooden dowel. After, the pressing open becomes that much easier and my machine has no problem going over several seams when quilting. It takes a little longer initially, but what a difference when quilting. Love, Joan

I read somewhere that we quilters press to the side rather than an open seam as in clothing sewing because by doing that it keeps the batting from migrating out of the seam-sort of seals it...makes sense. I have always pressed to the dark side(most of the time), unless that would cause bulk, then flip to light, making sure there is no shadow of the dark, and there never has been (so far). As far as pinwheels, and actually meeting of four corners too, I do the little "spin" to lessen the bulk and avoid the "volcano top"...If I recall though, I think those that do miniatures usually press open seams...not enough room for all those side seams, I guess

with modern batting the chances of migrating through the seams is minimal. most quilters today stitch over and across the seams anyway holding the batting in place.

in years past, battings were looser and came apart and migrated more easily and were more of a problem.

like a lot of questionable practices among quilters,this will never have an answer. like washing before cutting. quilters have to try out each method and see what works best for them and go with it.

Yes have read that lately as well and usually seems to much of hassle occ important and then do it.

Pressing seams open makes them not as strong as when pressed to one side.