yellowwroses

Can you please tell me if you press your half squares to side or open. Have not use many before and just getting back to quilting
thanks

Iceblossom

I press open for a variety of reasons, for me it is more accurate and less lumpy. Keep your stitch length short if you are pressing open. Pressing open also means I typically pin a lot more than other people, about every 2" all the time.

Sometimes pressed open or not, when you have a bunch of points going around in a circle (like in the middle of a star) the proper tool for the job is a hammer to squish that seam down!

juliasb

I was taught to press sto the side lighter onto the d ark part of the HST. So unless the pattern says otherwise I always do it to the side. The most important part is to press well.

Irishrose2

Side for me. I have to have a very good reason to press open - takes more time and heats my fingertips.

bearisgray

I usually press to the side. I have a more challenging time lining up seams that are pressed open than those that are pressed to the side.

Macybaby

I look at how they work with blocks next to them. I like to "nest" when possible and will press to facilitate that.

leaha

I press to the dark side, so when hand quilting I have less layers to sew threw and was the way I learned

Kitsie

I press open (like I do for most of my seams.) Flying Geese, no, to the side!

MeadowMist

It’s a constant battle for me which to do. I started with side only but they got so bulky that I switched to open. In the end I found those are just as bulky. I do feel that pressing them open might give a little bit of a neater look. I tend to stitch in the ditch when quilting, or at least try to, so for that reason I’m more likely to press to the side.

Danny

Just keep in mind how you are going to finish your quilt or if you send it to a longarmmer. If you do an overall design then it doesn't matter if your seams are open or pressed to the dark side but, if the quilt calls for custom work then the quilter needs the ditch to keep your quilt as square as possible and to be able to go from one element to the next. I personally prefer pressing to the dark when possible so I cover my bases when I quilt my top.