ginnie6

I have never used steam until recently. Joined a new church that has a quilting group and they use steam. I have to say I like it. So what's your preference?

popover

No steam. It tends to stretch a bias edge. I mist a little water if I have a wrinkle.

osewme

I love using steam & keep my iron on steam all the time. Don't ask me why, I just like it.

thrums

I do the same. Steam can also cause shrinkage.

joe'smom

I gave up on steam when I got fed up with dribbles and sputters. I now use a dry iron and Best Press. I also tended to get warping and rippled fabric with steam.

Jordan

I use steam and keep my iron on steam all the time. If you just use up and down motion, I don't feel it stretches the fabric. Just remember not to iron like you iron clothes. I think it is personal preference really.

cashs_mom

I agree with Jordan. It is a personal preference. Since I learned to sew thru a garment construction background, I always used steam, especially when I was using a steam generator. Now it depends on what I'm doing. Using an up and down motion with steam can get the seams really flat.

bearisgray

I washed my fabric before cutting it, so no worry about shrinkage.

I like steam better - I can use a higher heat and not scorch things.

I don't have a problem with stretching bias edges. I press "with the grain" so the bias is not stretched.

NJ Quilter

I'm another steamer. Also from a garment construction background. Also a prewasher so I don't think shrinkage is an issue either. I am careful when dealing with bias edges - which I tend to try not to have. But when dealing with bias edges I starch the daylights out of the fabric and that seems to help with the stretching issue.

catsden

I'm a steamer also, but also have another iron that is just a dry iron that I will use also.