AAACK!!! Need help quickly on rag quilt seams!!
 

Hello everyone.. well I've just sewn the first row of blocks on my first rag quilt... Do I press seams open? to one side (this way for one row; that way for the next?) The blocks are denim/shirt material with no batting. They've been sewn together with a big "X".

Thank you for your help!!

I have always pressed them open. This will eliminate a lot of the bulk. Probably disperses the fray nicer too.

I have never pressed seams for any of the rag quilts I have made. I have taken four ragquilt workshops and not one instructor has suggested to press the seams.

DO NOT PRESS.....you will need the 2 joined seams ''together'' when you being to make those little cuts!!!!

I never press. What I do to ease the bulk is to cut the width of the seam out of each corner of every block. I find it easier to sew together that way. If you don't want to do that, just lay one seam one way & the other seam the opposite way witch will level things out. These quilts are so fun & fast going together.

i've never pressed seams for rag quilts- you want the raw edges together for clipping not to one side or open

Count me among those who don't press. These are rag quilts ....

Thanks everyone... I will NOT press!! :-D Now that I've had some lunch, I can start UNSEWING the first row of blocks which I sewed RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER... sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I've put a little sticky note on the machine to sew WRONG sides together!!

I would thinking pressing makes the cutting them harder. I would not press either!

Hi, the one I made at Xmas I didn't press and it turned out perfect....

when i join rows, i pin seams one way and the next row added i pin them the other way. doesn't really matter since you will cut into them later. and don't feel bad sewing seams the "wrong" way like in a regular quilt. i just did that recently. ripped that row apart!

I too don't think you press on rag quilts. On the one I made I did not press and it turned out beautifully.

Been there, done that.

Another thing that I do when sewing the block together to form wrows is to clip all the seam on those blocks before sewing two row together. Much easier to clip when handling one or two row than when the whole quilt is done. Pluse much easier on your hands and fingers from all that clipping.

Yes, it is strange to sew them opposite of what we normally do. And no, I've never pressed seams open or to the side before. I sew the seams at 1/2" and then take scissors and cut them, then wash and dry the quilt a few times til it properly rags to the point that I am satisfied. They are neat and look pretty impressive.

I'll have to admit as a "seam finisher" the whole idea of a rag quilt where you actually clip the seam allowances and then purposely fray the seams...it was different to me--and went against all I was taught in sewing class.

However, they do look neat.

I would not press them either!