I am not sure how to describe how I press. I press the side of the seam to lock the stitches and the I carefully press the side of the seam to whatever direction I wish it to do. I do the opposite of what everyone else is saying because I press strip sets with Bargello after I have stitched them all. But if you get your stitches press, it will lock them into the fabric and you might not have as much of a problem. Never heard of a strip stitch!! I use to watch SIMPLY QUILTS to be informed of new products but that show was cancelled many years ago.