wellphooey

If it is a quilt with long straight seams and lots of multi-seam intersections I have been pressing to the dark side until I get to the intersections. Then I press the intersections open. But of course I then have a twisted, but pressed down, seam close to the intersection. So far this has worked for me and I find the intersections look nice and flat along with the rest of the quilt. Am I asking for trouble? One thing I have real trouble with is "twirling the seams". Sometimes they just don't want to twirl, like they are sewn in the wrong direction even tho they are opposite each other. Can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Help please?

quilting cat

Pressing to the side is stronger. I usually press toward dark, but sometimes prefer to press a group of seams all the same direction.

eastslopequilter

If you are planning to stitch in the ditch, I would recommend that you do not press seams open. It is very hard to SITD when they are pressed open.

Kassaundra

I know "they" say seams pressed to one side are stronger, but I do not understand that reasoning. Garments are usually pressed open, get much more washing and much more wear and tear and no added stitching across the top (and bottom) of the seams and they stay together.

pchp

With respect to garments, perhaps hand-crafted ones have seams pressed open, but on both the top and pants I'm wearing right now (manufactured), the seams are pressed to one side, with an overlock to prevent unravelling.

newbee3

it is usually to the dark but it does not always work out for the best