Pressing seams open or to the side? And why?
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stanley NC
Posts: 981
If you're HAND quilting, it makes a difference in which way the seam is pressed. I pressed seams to one side on my first quilt but decided to press open on this one. There IS a big difference because the hand pieced seams aren't nearly as close together and strong as the machine pieced. I'll never press seams open again!
#23
I'm glad to see replies from seams-open quilters b/c I was beginning to feel like a quilting oddity. My mom taught me to sew when I was little but I'm a self-taught quilter. On the 1st few, I pressed to the side because that's what all the books said to do. I soon switched to pressing open because I like the flat flat surface it makes for quilting and I don't like seeing all those little ridges in my design. Admittedly it is more time consuming. There are places where I press to the side, like borders and sashes.
Having said all that, I will say that if you do a lot of QItD, press them to the side or there won't be a "ditch" to sew in. It's hard to stay in line w/o that ridge of fabric to follow and I wouldn't want to sew directly ON the threads of the piecing seams. I typically ignore the construction lines altogether and FMQ all over the place.
The usual argument is that pressing to the side makes the seams stronger. I have repaired a number of old hand-pieced quilts. The ones that came apart at the seams were either sewn with longer, looser stitches, not quilted as much, or maybe just loved a whole lot more. It appears that stitch quality made the difference, same as with a machine sewn quilt. I've been using (and machine washing!) my quilts for several years now and I've not had any problems with the seams giving way --yet. Time will tell, I guess.
Having said all that, I will say that if you do a lot of QItD, press them to the side or there won't be a "ditch" to sew in. It's hard to stay in line w/o that ridge of fabric to follow and I wouldn't want to sew directly ON the threads of the piecing seams. I typically ignore the construction lines altogether and FMQ all over the place.
The usual argument is that pressing to the side makes the seams stronger. I have repaired a number of old hand-pieced quilts. The ones that came apart at the seams were either sewn with longer, looser stitches, not quilted as much, or maybe just loved a whole lot more. It appears that stitch quality made the difference, same as with a machine sewn quilt. I've been using (and machine washing!) my quilts for several years now and I've not had any problems with the seams giving way --yet. Time will tell, I guess.
#26
If your going to stitch in the ditch for machine quilting it is better to press to the side. If your going to do a curved end dresden plate or fan I press the seam open because it is easier to applique it onto the background block. Otherwise I don't think it matters. Then it is just a personal choice.
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
#30
I pressed the seams open in one quilt because I was worried about bulk...however, after washing the quilt a few times I noticed a lot of batting working it's way up through those pressed open seams. I notice much less stringy insides coming up through the seams I press to the side.
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AngelinaMaria
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03-11-2013 04:57 AM