press all the seams of your quilt top open! When all instructions for quilting seem say to press the seams to the side, the pattern I am about to start says to press them open to align the triangles accurately. The quilt will be made up totally of two different sized triangles.
Here's the problem- I just read the just other day that if the seams are pressed open you are apt to get 'whiskers' of batting sticking out through the seams. Don't want that!
So what do I do- use small stitches or line the back of the quilt top with something light to keep the batting from coming through?
Has anyone any other ideas? TIA for your help

You could shorten your stitch length slightly but I always press my seams open when making my kaleidoscope quilts with my normal stitch length and I've never had batting poking through. I think this advice comes from the days when everyone hand pieced...

Just press the seams open and use a batting that won't beard. Hobbs 80/20 would be a good choice, or other primarily cotton batting. 100% polyester is the type that is likely to beard, and some wool battings will beard.

Prism's right, I should have mentioned that I only use blended batting - Quilter's Dream 70/20 as a rule. I guess a cheap poly might cause problems but I'd steer clear of cheap battings anyway.

Bearding seldom happens these days and depends entirely on the type of batting you use. It's much more likely to happen with quilting lines where you are sewing through the batting, than with pressed open seams where you are not. Most modern battings do not beard.

Follow the directions for the pattern.

Absolutely. Some patterns like Hunter's Star have a very good reason for having the seams pressed open. Definitely follow the pattern instructions.

Thanks everyone for your input. I have every intention of following the pattern, but the pattern did not specify what type of batting to use. Therefore I really appreciate your help with this. The pattern also states to SID but I've always been told that to SID when the seams are pressed open can cause a problem with the needle cutting the stitch in the seam. So even though I think it would look really nice done that way, I don't think I'll do it that way.

if the pattern recommend pressing open that is to avoid the bulk where points come together, if you choose to ignore this and press to one side you will have problems with it coming together correctly. there are always exceptions to every rule and sometimes in quilting we have to press them open. if you are really worried about what little bit of batt may some day migrate you could shorten your stitch length giving a (tighter) seam...but i do not believe pressing open causes this to happen any more than what migrates through the stitching holes caused from quilting. in the 200+ quilts i have made i've never had batting migration be a problem. if you use quality fabrics and quality batting it is going to hold up for generations

There are lots of people with 'absolutes'-don't due this or.....do it this way only or...

You will not have problems doing SITD over pressed open seams. Your needle will not cut the threads.

Interesting. I had always heard NOT to SITD with pressed open seams. The reason is that you have thread on thread which is less stable and the quilt won't be as sturdy if you quilt all over.

I have SITD over open seams and no problems so far. Again I reiterate that I only use quality batting, fabric and thread. :-D This includes my son's bed quilt which is washed many times, used to play tents etc... :-D

With all the quilting done on a quilt you won't have all the weight put on one thread only. It's distributed throughout the quilt.

:thumbup:

Whenever I do a pattern for the first time, I follow the directions exactly. So do a practice block. But, I agree, that the reason is probably to reduce bulk.

If you are worried about the seams, backstitch at the beginning and ending of each seam so your stitches stay tight. I saw Fons and Porter the other day where Maryanne and Mary were demonstrating how to begin sewing two to three stitches, then turning the piece around to do the seam, then ending it the same way by turning the piece around and stitching two to three stitches. It keeps the stitches tight on the end.

(They were demonstrating on a Babylock. When in quilting mode, Babylocks don't back stitch but stitch in place. You have to switch to sewing mode and then it will backstitch. So, I guess it was just easier for them to turn the fabric around.)

Funny enough this pattern I am going to do is in the Fons and Porter July/August 2010 magazine. It's called 'Nothing But Triangles' and my DH just loves it. He had picked out a Civil War Tribute quilt at first, but when he saw this one that was it! Personally I like the Civil War Tribute quilt - oh well, he's the love of my life so he'll have what he likes!

i would follow the directions

I do the same thing, I have never had a problem either. I usually think if they tell you to press one way or the other that they have a reason for telling you that. I found that out when I did my first stack and whack pinwheel quilt. They lay so much nice if pressed open. :thumbup: