scrappy diva

I have been opening my seams for years and like the look the blocks get. Easier to press and match up to other blocks!!!

Rose Marie

Some experts press open seams. Think about it clothes are pressed open.
Pants you sit on are pressed open.
I do both ways, If Im not sure about which way to press I do open.

mar32428

I also found that I was losing some of my seam allowance when folded to one side and sometimes I had a bimp where these seams crossed. Anybody else have that problem?

mar32428

That's bump. Sorry.

shaverg

I learned to open my seams when I first started quilting in 1983. Then I took some classes later that kept saying press them to the side. I am going back to pressing them open. I think it will make it easier when I am handquilting. I hate having to go through all those seams.

HMK

Oh how I wish I'd read all this before doing the latest BOM. The pattern did say to press seams open for accuracy but did I listen - nope - I knew better and was taught to press to one side. Well the pattern maker knew what they were talking about - ended up with lots of bulk in some seams, areas that didn't want to lie flat and some spots were difficult to get good points because of the bulk. I'm going to try to press open on the next quilt.

weezie

My second comment on this subject: As my personal preference and because of my low boredom threshold, I do not construct all my quilt blocks first and then put them together. In the past, when I've sewn all the blocks first, I've gotten some nasty seam allowance surprises when it was time to attach the blocks and rows to each other. Now, I mostly do 1 row at a time and can see immediately where I need to open my seam allowances so I don't have bumps, lumps or distortions and can also see where it's more feasible to press them to one side. Since I'm a bit challenged in the physical coordination area, I've done a lot of fun experimenting with all things quilty. I'm sort of a "make my own rules as I go" person.

sunnyhope

Can you show me a photo so i m totally sure on what you mean so i will do it correctly :wink:

I thought you should iron the seams to the sides, like every other etc :oops:

kd124

I wondered about that as well. I can watch them over and over.

It depends on the block which way I press. I only press open when there is bulk.