If you are pressing your seams open, a great way to do it is to use one of those "ham's" like they use for making clothing. It makes a nice open seam and you will not burn your fingers. If I know that I will be doing a heavy quilting on the quilt, I will use open seams. I always use an open 1/2" seam to piece my backings. I was taught to do that by a long arm quilter.