1. Press don't iron. Do not wiggle your iron around it will stretch and distort your fabric. Pressing means picking up the iron off the fabric and putting it back down each time you move.

2. Set your seams just as it was sewn do not open or move seams yet. This helps sink the stiches into the fabric , and lessens the bulk when opened.

3. Let the fabric cool in place before moving to prevent distortion of bias edges.

4. Finger press first it is temporary and good if you are not sure which way the seam will eventually be pressed.

5. Avoid seeing seam shadows. Generally press towards the dark. If pressing to the lighter fabric trim the darker fabric seam allowance by 1/16 after seam is sewn to prevent any shadows.

6. If a seam has been pressed the wrong way , return to unpreesed state and start over. Wait before it cools to move the seam the other way.

7. When there are several seams meeting , press them open. Distributes the bulk and makes it easier to quilt.

8. To prevent from smashing your applique turn it face down on a terry cloth before pressing.

9. Straight seams should be pressed from the right side of fabric with the iron parallel to the straight grain. Helps from you getting tucks and pleats in the seam.

10.A bias seam should be pressed with the iron at a 45 degree angle to the seam and along the straight of grain to prevent distortion. God to use this methond when pressing 1/2 square triangles.

Hope this tips help. I need to be more careful when I press :!: :!: :roll: :oops: :lol: :shock: :( :?

steam or no steam?

i most definitely IRON vs. PRESS...need to PRESS not IRON!!!

Great tips Bebe. Thanks for the reminders!

Thanks, Bebe. I never knew why I was supposed to set seams.

No steam it stretches fabric. That is my opinion.
The only time I use steam is when I am pressing my yardage fabric because I left it in the dryer to long and has many wrinkles that will not come out.

Thanks for the tips! This is one area that I could use some work on.

Thanks Bebe! Pressing makes a huge differance in the results of your piecing.

great tips, bebe! thanks for sharing!!

we had a steam/no steam thread not too long ago....it varies like the prewash/no prewash....I think it's how we were originally taught and personal preference.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/7830.page

I do "move" my iron. Not so much lengthwise but more aross the seams, to make them flat and crisp, especially from the front. :mrgreen:

Also, think of the iron as another tool for shaping your block - When my students had trouble getting their blocks to full-size, it was often because they had just dabbed at the fabric with the iron in an attempt to press without moving the iron. They hadn't pressed it out well enough.

Most of the distortion in pieces, especially long pieces, is done during the sewing. You have to let the strips feed through "naturally" rather than pulling on them, but it's hard to do.

Steam can be effectively used for easing in unwanted fullness. I like steam.

Those are great tips, Bebe.

Great tips!

I also never use steam and I always press from the right side.
Pressing from the wrong side can make creases at the seam line.

My sister and I went to a show a couple of months ago, and they had a demonstration, on a good way to remove wrinkles. The lady said to get a spray bottle and put 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water and spray the problem areas. I know this has nothing to do with "pressing" but it just popped into my head and thought I would share it.

Anne

I use steam and lots of it. I also use spray starch to help the fabric remember that it has a memory.
For pressing out stubborn wrinkles, try Windex.

I always use steam.
El Burns uses it too.

Thanks for the tips Bebe...If I keep hearing them, maybe I'll finially start to do it right :roll:

Don't ever iron your quilts once they are quilted the batting will become flatter than road kill. It can cause the batting to come apart or loose.

Thanks for the tips. Wow, I never thought of using Windex.

Windex? Really? Never would've thought of that. I'll have to try that next time - although I'm kinda having flashbacks to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"!