I was working on a quilting project tonight and was wondering???
When you press the seam on blocks or piecing...which way do you press and do you use steam? Another thought I had is do you press the seams while making a block or after the block is finished and the joining to other blocks. Thanks, Kirsten |
Pressing seams is a problem for me too. Rule of thumb, press toward the darker fabric but not always. Flying geese it is best to press away from the point but not always. I press my seams if my next piece crosses that seam. I use steam but lots of people dont. Always press down not like ironing a piece of clothing. You dont want to streach your pieces.
I like Eleanor Burns patterns cause she tells you which way to press your seams. You can also press seams open if you have doubts about which way to go. |
Thanks for the tips...
I have never taken a class or anything...but I do watch PBS with their quilting shows and then I also read the boards and stuff...and most of my sewing is trial and error.............hehe... So I just sew and sew and do what ever works best for the project... Thanks...hope to get more tips. Kirsten |
KO24, if you use steam and your blocks are on the bias.......they will stretch. Try to use a dry iron and don't move the iron around, just set it over the seam.
If you are a "steamer" then use the steam, but again, DON'T move the iron around. Just set it down, hold it a few seconds, then let the block completely cool to the touch before you try to move it or pick it up. I've skewed more blocks in using steam than I care to admit. Now I'm a true dry iron hound. I still let the blocks cool before I move them, but I don't get those funny little waves quite as much as I used to. Happy Quilting, Sharon |
After ruining blocks with steam I find a quick spray with a light spray starch to work great. Hope this helps.
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OK, no steam, I get that where the blocks get all squewy...
But now I am lost with starch and sizing...??? What & when...what is it???? Thanks, K |
KO24 It will say on the can spray starch or sizing, which ever it is.
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I press every step of the way, I press my pieces together before sewing the seam...i press the sewn seam to set the stitches before opening the piece up.
I always use steam when I press, but I just bring the iron down and lift it up, I don't slide the iron over the pieces/block. Seams go towards the dark, but there are some situations where it is has to go towards the light. :) |
Does steam not shrink the blocks? I have noticed while using the steam setting that my blocks change size and shape.
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In my experience, if I wash the fabrics BEFORE cutting, a lot of these things (such as shrinkage) do not happen.
I did find that when I soaked the blocks with starch or sizing, and ironed/pressed them while sopping wet, they did stretch - quite a bit. |
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