mjmarsh

It has been mentioned above but will give my own opinion anyway. I have done it both ways but when it comes to the actual quilting (longarming), it is much easier to quilt when the seams are pressed to one side. When the seams are pressed open, it is so very difficult to get really good, accurate SID - single stitch wobbles are not unusual and if you are dealing with a show quilt, that is unacceptable and frogging is all too common. When the seams are pressed to the side, it is much easier to get a stitch line so very close to the seam on the low side that is is sometimes almost impossible to see. It is also easier to keep those lines straight. When SID'ing, the use of a fine matching thread (to fabric) or monopoly thread is also very important. SID is not necessarily a true SID like we think in home sewing, but rather a line of sewing to keep the quilt layers in place. I love SID for how it can really make a design element pop - especially when heavier stitching is used around the main design element. I will admit that for some quilting designs it is best to open the seams to allow for better matching of seams as well as decreased bulk - For that reason I have been know to mix methods during the piecing process but still try to avoid open seams whenever possible - I longarm all my own quilts and try to keep the headaches to a total minimum. When I do have a quilt with all or mostly open seams, I do not do SID if at all possible!!! So, for those of you who send your quilt tops out for quilting, this might give you some insight as to why certain methods are preferred by your quilter. It's right up there with borders being measured and attached correctly. Thanks for listening.