Hide From the quilt police! I finger press seams and pin seam allowances...sew the top together..and press the thing after it's done. I press flat..whatever way it seems to lie best. I haven't found any significant difference than press as I go..except that I get no distortion. It makes no difference in my quilting,and the seam allowances don't show after sandwiching. I don't make competition quilts...I make dragger quilts...the recipients love them. It saves time,too.