Why are the seams pressed to the side rather then pressed open like in garment construction?
I did it but Im loosing sleep as to why.

Also am I correct in my thinking that each row should be pressed opposite direction?

it is a personal preference, the seams are easier to match up if each one is pressed in the oppisite direction. if i can i try to press to the darker fabric so that it doesn't show thru.

I press my seams towards the darker fabric so the seams won't show through the lighter ones but can't tell you why it's all pressed to one side. I would imagine it's easier to keep track of those seams if they are on one side when pressing. I know that it helps me keep track of which side my seams are pressed when I flip the fabric over to press the front of my quilting.

I press open. I like it better that way. I also read an article a while back about why traditional reasons for pressing to one side do not apply in machine piecing. I wish I could remember where...

At any rate, it's really a preference thing.

The seams are pressed in opposing directions to reduce bulk. In some blocks, you have many seams meeting in the center, pressing them in a "swirl" reduces the bulk, and reduces the chances of a hard bump in the top of your quilt. It also helps to match seams, and hide seams by pressing to the dark.

I was told that in the beginning it was done to reduce bulk and add strength to the seam. I know that my LQS now teaches people to press open, so I am not sure. I find that it is easier to press a 1/4" seam to the side, rather than to press them open.

Mostly because we do things the way our ancestors did. They pressed seams all to one side to keep the batting in. Batting wasn't bonded or needle punched, it was just carded cotton laid on the backing. Plus hand sewn seams have little tiny gaps in the stitching if they're pressed open.

Carded cotton is sort of combed between two wide flat brush type things. They pull all the cotton fibers in one direction.

Since I started glue basting I find myself pressing open more often than not. Seems to work better for me.

Actually, way back in 1980, I was taught to press to one side to prevent the polyester batting fibers that were in use then from "migrating" through seams to the front. It's one of the reasons I detest poly batting and rarely if ever use it now. I also don't care for the "slick" feel of it in my quilts.

Also, all the other reasons mentioned here.


Jan in VA

I was told that way back when everything was sewn by hand it would strengthen the seams if they were pressed to one side - if they were open they gave away easier . now not as important with machines as they have stronger seams . That is what I was told anyways

If you have too much stress on a seam, it can split..if the seam allowances are pressed open like in sewing and the seam splits, you have a hole and can see the batting. If the allowances are pressed to the side as in quilting and the seam splits, you don't notice the batting since there is a layer of fabric below.

I found this article http://www.straw.com/equilters/libra...SeamsOpen.html and it changed my mind about pressing seams open. I have always (20+ years!!!) struggled with getting seams to match and this method has worked well for me - I too was taught to press seams to one side, but I am getting better results with pressing them open.

Because of the "lock stitch" that sewing machines make it is not necessary to press to one side. Do as you prefer...neither way is wrong.

I was taught to press them to one side, but it seems to be whatever you prefer. No quilt police here.

If you press open and you quilt in the ditch you only would be sewing over the thread.........makes most sence to me to iron to darker side. It also helps nesting seams together for sharp points.

I iron my seams to the side it makes a stronger seam.

I have been sewing quilts for over thirty plus years . I have almost always pressed my seams open. I have never had any issues with wear and tear. I like the look of a flat seam. It really helps to make some seams disappear, especially after its been quilted. My Long Arm person loves to do my quilts as there are no bumps the machine moves easliy over the entire quilt. I like it better when free motion for the same reason.

I was given a quilt kit this morning and tried pressing the seams to the side and had amazing results. I am wondering how my machine is going to feel about the bulk while quilting it.

Thanks for all the information.

My grandmother said it was so the batting didn't poke out through the stitches. Don't know if that is the original purpose for pressing to the side, but it works for me.

I prefer to press open wherever I can.

Care to share your method? I use glue basting for binding but I've never
done a whole quilt. Can you do a large quilt? How much glue do you put
and per how many square inch?

When I have pressed seams open, I find that those seams tend to show stress and even break when people sit or lie on the quilts.
I press to one side for that reason, and also to let matching seams nest into one another for better accuracy.
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Thank you for this link! When piecing a scrappy, its really nice to know!

I like it so I can butt the seams together and match better. But it is a personal preference.

Thats what I was told too. depends in the project I am doing weather I press to one side, or open.

This is what I heard also. It adds strength to the seam - My mantra while pressing seams - "Press to the dark". Edie

The pressed open seams are more vulnerable. To the side gives better results, we press open seams in garment construction to keep the seam allowance from telescoping through, in quilts this is not an issue.

I press to side. I do not know why anyone would try to press a 1/4 in seam open! It is harder than pressing to side. Also was taught that this reduces bulk, make seam stronger. Correct about just sewing on thread when SID if seams pressed open.

Mostly to keep the seams from showing under the lighter fabric, although I have pressed open on occasion. I think its mostly personal preference.

I think seams are pressed to one side because it's quicker. And they are NOT always pressed to the darker side. Sometimes being pressed to the lighter side facilitates construction more easliy. I find seams that are pressed in opposite directions are easier to match than seams that are pressed open, just because they seem to have a natural "edge" when the 2 seams butt up together. But either way is perfectly acceptable - whatever your preference is!

to the side - no backstitching required. Stronger seams

Some times it depends on the pattern you are working with. Some call for the seam to be pressed to the dark, others say to the light, and things like dresden plates are pressed open so there won't be too much bulk when you sew the wedges together.
Please don't fuss over it, just do it the way that is comfortable for you. Good luck, Huggies, fay

grammyp

That is what I was told by my Grandma also. And Granny knows best. When making a civil war wall hanging I did press the seams open and they do lay much flatter. It is at the quilters now can't wait to see if she says anything about how it was to quilt.

Suzy

I really don't think it makes much difference if you are machine piecing. I usually will press to one side if I'm doing 4 or 9 patches, but if I'm doing something like a hexagon (One Block Wonders) or any type of kaleidoscope or star block where 6 or more points come together, I will press open to reduce some of the bulk at the point. And with todays fabrics, if you are using a good quality quilting cotton, I really don't think it matters if you press to the dark or light. The seam is only 1/4 inch, and unless the fabric is really thin, most people wouldn't even notice if your seam was showing under the light fabric.

Best word of advice... try it both ways, with different blocks ( 4 Patch, Kaleidoscope or hexagon) and see which way you like best, and do what works for YOU!!!!

I learned to quilt in the 80's when polyester battings were the norm and seams to one side were taught to keep the batting from creeping through. It also makes a stronger seam for wear.
I haven't used polyester batting in years, but I still press to one side - it's just easier than pressing a little 1/4" seam open. I do press star centers or other complex blocks open to reduce bulk. I've always taught my quilt classes that way - and to press rows in opp. directions, they will nest and corners match more easily. :)

Just today I received my Quilting magazine. It had an insert with quilter's tips. This was one of the topics. Everyone has their own way. Some liked pressing to the side and some liked pressing open, and some pressed toward the dark fabric. Do whatever feels right to you.

Either way is acceptable and more classes are using the press open method. Pressing to one side is really helpful when you are sewing rows or blocks together as you can butt the 2 seams pressed in different directions to help you get a perfect corner match.

Yes, that was the original purpose, but also for a stronger seam once quilted. I have some older quilts that the stitching has started coming apart, but you can't see the batting poking through because the maker pressed to the side, and I am able to whip stitch the seam back together easily.

It's personal preference. Sometimes I press open on a small item to reduce the bulk at the seams.

I sew the way I was taught to sew clothing. I was trained as a professional seamstress. I will press open and to the side depending.

I saw a video of Alex Anderson and she said to press to one side so the stitches won't show