NJ Quilter

That's one of the reasons I press all of my seams open. Unless it's a pp'd block of course. Much flatter results all the way around (no pun intended).

tallchick

Sorry about your lumps, I too press all my seams open and rarely have this issue. Just remember, if you press your seams open you’ll want to decrease your stitch length too.

luvstoquilt

I think I like rryder’s Method. I am going to try that. Lol

Rhonda K

Here you go!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhMOK2iBJY0

Onebyone

When a lot of seams meet, I grade (trim) each seam after sewing. Then when they all come together there is not bulk.

Iceblossom

Typically I press open. There are times when I don't, like curved pieces, but if I can I press open.

I like just having one rule, when you press to the side there are a kazillion different addendum to "press to the dark side" unless this happens or that happens, or you alternate, or whatever. Plus I simply don't like the look of a 1/4" of three layers of white next to a piece that only has one layer.

In this case, I would indeed try the swirl thing if pressing open didn't work.

I believe pressing open requires the use of pins. When you do press to the sides you can nest them together by the lumps. I see people who do wonderful things without the use of pins, for me, I can't do it without the pins!

Iceblossom

Very good point, Tallchick. I was thinking about this just yesterday. I am amazed at the huge stitches some people use and am not surprised when their seam ends fray and such. I asked one friend about it a couple of years ago and she said it was easier for her to take out if needed. I asked her how much time she spent taking out stitches as opposed to having to deal with the last half inch of all her strips being bad...

I have to admit with my vision issues I can not see well enough anymore to take out stitches if the thread coordinates with the fabric. So I pretty much always use a camel brown or a grey-blue, plus since I make scrap quilts I can't do much in terms of matching thread to fabric.

With the Bernina I was given, the "default" stitch was too long for me. If you can easily pull away 3-4 stitches from the end of a seam, it's too long and/or not tight enough for quilting.

When you do strip piecing you also need a smaller stitch length than in garment construction because you are going to cut through those stitches.

I'm not used to these modern numbers, but I start with a stitch of about 12 to an inch, I'd have to check on what I have the Bernina set to now. If I'm doing something like cutting appliques (I usually use the facing/slit and turn it inside out method) I'll go to something closer like 16. Paper piecing also I typically use a tiny stitch. I never ever go down (up??) to 10 stitches to an inch while piecing.

Onebyone

Here is how to grade the seam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYLIVgDaChU forward to 3:20 and great tips at 5:20

Bobbinalong

Thank you Onebyone, that link is so useful!

Libits

That link is helpful but cutting that "V" scares the daylights out of me. But I have lots of fabric so I'm going to give it a shot.