I use steam when I am ironing out the wrinkles when I was fabric and when the quilt top is finished, all pieced and ready for layering. I know that I tend to stretch my fabric when I use steam. I often hear that we are supposed to press not iron our pieces. Ironing with steam will distort a cut piece. Pressing without steam works well. Bottom line, is adjust how use my iron to what I am doing within the process of creating a quilt.