Eleanor burns shows all of the time removing those few stitches so that the center of the block "swirls" around in a pinwheel on the back side of the block :wink: I think that was what the pictures were showing....

It depends on the type of block. I do a lot of paper piecing and I open those babies up. Most others are butted. Msaster

I sew each seam from the outside toward the center and stop sewing 1/4 '' from the middle. Lower your stitch length for the last few stitches. Press all the seams the same way and it will "swirl" in the middle and lay perfectly flat.

Bear, You have been given all the right answers to the bulky seam dilemma. If you are machine quilting. the quilting in the areas surrounding this particular meet will be holding the quilt together and taking the stress off the intersection. If you feel there is a chance of it coming apart, you can stitch right over that area at least once in your quilting design.
Happy Stitching

The little tute is excellent, but the hammer is also good. I've had the problem and heard someone say on a quilt show once that a rubber mallet was a good tool for the sewing room. I bought a new one and announced to everyone that it was not to leave the sewing room. (Wouldn't want them to "dirty it up" or misplace it). It works well on stubborn seams. Steam and hammer. Good luck.

amma said it
I was taught in class to remove the 2 stitches on top of the sec seam and one will go one way and the other the other no mallet lol
It realy works use it all the time
Gale

Sigh--I stopped pressing open--takes too much time and I like the swirl I see when seams go to the side. I've pulled stitches out in several places but I never get a nice little 4 patch like you all do. So--I'm opening the last seam--and that seems to be good enough. Nothing else has to go through that center anyway....

Does someone want to come over and show me how to do it? I'll let you kiss a horse! :wink:

If you lived within 50 miles of me, I'd take you up on it.

Sure wish I could just bop on over and show you! :lol:

I'll make lemonade! :lol: