I'm glad I read this post. It's an issue I've often wondered about myself. I'm especially glad to read that pressing seams to one side comes from hand piecing days. I've been faithfully pressing to one side, but on the D9P that I'm doing right now, I don't see how it will help, and kind of wish I had pressed all the seams open! Oh well. Next quilt I'll do what seems best for the pattern!

There was just a post on this yesterday:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-133239-1.htm#3562067

I think it's a matter of preference. I try to press all my seams to one side because I just feel it would make the seam sturdier.

Thank you for the great answers and information everyone!

Back in the 70's when I started quilting we did it almost always by hand. The reason for pressing seams to side was that the seam would be stronger. So I believe this is probably the reason if there is such. However, as time evolved quilters started pressing seams anyway necessary to achieve a good look. I always pressed seams of multiple point open because it helped the center to lay flat.

They are generally pressed to one side so that they can nest together easily without pinning. However, there are such times when you just use your judgement as to how it will sit more easily and therefore press them open. A case in point is when you don't want the peaks in the middle of an eight pointed star and so you make a sort of fanned or swirled pressing where all of the seams meet.

I'm like you, coming from a garment/home dec background. When I started quilting I pressed to the side as that was what was taught. I've made up my own mind and now almost always press open. As you (and others) have said - for the flat seams/quilt. As discussed on another thread here, I also hand quilt so the flat/open seams make for much easier hand quilting.

Thanks again everyone for the insight! Once again, I learn that there really are, ' NO Quilting Police'!!!! LOL :thumbup:

I really must get that Jr High Sewing Teacher (also known as the POLICE), standing over us making sure we didn't get 1 stitch out of place, or show a flair of individuality,:thumbdown:
out of my mind once and forever!! LOL

I do it both ways. Sometimes pressing to one side makes matching up seams easier; I can butt the two sides together. I think hand quilters used to say to always press to one side because batting could leak through. Now people machine piece and batting coming through is not a problem.

Jean; Thank you for your reply. I had to do a double take on your Avatar info. I live in Redmond...OR. :-D