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Yup, what she said.

lol.... so true. Most of the directions for making quilts that I've seen so far, all have piecing seams pressed to the sides either one way or the other, so that when the rest of the piecing get's sewn together, the seams alternate and 'lock' to make sewing matching points easier.

Personally, I also like it because if later on, during use... a seam is strained... the white fluffy stuff won't show or leak through the strained seam. 'Cause the seam is covered by one layer of fabric either pressed to the left or to the right.

Um... ask me how I know.... :oops:

yep you are supposed to press to the dark but often if the pattern calls for a certain direction for pressing you need to follow that. Or if both fabrics are light, I just press open!

Yes, I've read somewhere, that if you are machine piecing, pressing open is fine. But as Lobster, said, and what I read, that when hand piecing you should not press seams open because of weaker seams and migrating batting. And there are always exceptions and better ways to do things depending on what you are making and what results you want.

I let the block dictate the press. I just finished a baby quilt with pinwheels, and they laid best when the seams were pressed open.

While sitting at my machine, prior to going to the iron, I "finger press" with a wooden iron. This easily shows me how the fabric will behave. To me, it's useless to press fabric in any direction that it doesn't want to go in.

Linda

Well , for four decades I have pressed the majority of my seams open. None of my quilts have had issues. Its a preference thing. I like a Really, really flat block.
As far a batting coming through the seams, that might be true if you used a batting that was not well bonded , or did not have a scrim.

One of the reasons for pressing to the side is so the batting won't find a way out of the seam. Also, if there isn't a lot of quilting over the seam, it could open up.

Most of the time I press to the side and I try to plan my seams so they nest row by row. Sometimes, I press open - when the seams get just too thick and unwielding.

Same here!

Sometimes, it is helpful to press them open (not often_ When you do, you will have to backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam or they will come apart.

I mostley press to one side but if needed to reduce bulk I press open. Do what ever works best for the project.