Pressing seams -
#12
I often mix the way seams are pressed within a block. For instance, in my spiderweb quilt Deep Purple (Spiderweb quilt, "Deep Purple"), the wedges are strip pieced, with the seams pressed to the side, but the seams joining the wedges are pressed open because I have better luck matching the bulky centers that way.
Daffy
Daffy
#14
I always press seams open, however sometimes a block will tell you how it wants to be pressed and I listen, I’m currently finishing a quilt that has mixed methods in it and while a majority of the seams are pressed open, there are a few that wouldn’t behave so I pressed them accordingly.
#17
It depends on the block for me. Most of the time, I press seams open, that's just how I learned to quilt, but I also know there are times that it's better for the block to lay flat that the seams needs to be on one side or the other. Blocks like the pinwheel are ones that I insist on pressing the seams open, way too many intersecting seams right in the middle of the block, the bulk and weight just feels weird, but blocks such as a nine patch, I can press to one side and I'm happy with it.
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 158
Recently I took a class for making Lallybroch Lane and I decided to make mine in the small size. Our teacher advised that on the small quilt to press the seams open, especially for the Lemoyne Star block. I'd heard of using 1/8th inch seams for smaller piecing but pressing seams open was news to me. She did recommend we also use a shorter stitch length.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,166
What L'il Chickadee said about the shorter stitch length is important. I just updated another thread with similar questions that I believe in a smaller stitch if you press open and/or if you strip piece where you are cutting sub-units.
What I've observed over the last 5 years with my friends is the default stitch on most of the modern machines is a little too large for my style of sewing/quilting. The modern Bernina my friend gave me and I've been learning over the past year fooled me at first because it starts each row with a small set of stitches, but as I was cutting sub-units the stitches were coming out so I had to adjust the default to suit me.
Keep in mind, if you have a 1/4" seam allowance you need more than 1 stitch in there to be secure!
So what I do is sew two scraps together, cut it in half and tug a bit to open the seam, if 3-4 stitches loosen (not even come all the way out but if you see the deep V), tighten up your stitch. It's not a huge amount, just a bit makes things more secure and for those without vision issues but with patience you can still take out the stitches.
What I've observed over the last 5 years with my friends is the default stitch on most of the modern machines is a little too large for my style of sewing/quilting. The modern Bernina my friend gave me and I've been learning over the past year fooled me at first because it starts each row with a small set of stitches, but as I was cutting sub-units the stitches were coming out so I had to adjust the default to suit me.
Keep in mind, if you have a 1/4" seam allowance you need more than 1 stitch in there to be secure!
So what I do is sew two scraps together, cut it in half and tug a bit to open the seam, if 3-4 stitches loosen (not even come all the way out but if you see the deep V), tighten up your stitch. It's not a huge amount, just a bit makes things more secure and for those without vision issues but with patience you can still take out the stitches.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,559
I like to press my seams in a way that facilitates nesting and flat seams.
I find it odd that a teacher would instruct you to press the seams on a Lemoyne star block open. It's so easy and reduces so much bulk if you swirl them.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]617600[/ATTACH]
Sounds like your machine has an automatic lock stitch feature.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]617600[/ATTACH]
Sounds like your machine has an automatic lock stitch feature.
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gale
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05-16-2015 05:45 AM