I come from a sewing background where we nearly always pressed seams open. This ensures a nice flat seam.

In quilting as we know seams are normally(?) pressed to the side. When the seams are then butted together they 'nest' creating (hopefully) a perfect match.

I was reading the posting 'The Perfect Quilt~Quilted' http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-133140-1.htm
and noticed that Harriet the LAQ had referenced the quilt being so flat because the seams were pressed open. Therefore making it a dream to quilt. And... may I say again,it is a stunning quilt!!!

I must confess I am always pressing seams open, only then to re-press them to the side. To me it seems logical to press them open to create a more flat~less bumpy (@ seams) quilt!

Which is correct?.. the best way??? Or...is there a correct way? I always thought that pressing to the side was how it was supposed to be done in quilting.
I will probably receive dozens of answers saying it's up to the person making the quilt.
I would just love to know the reason why it is done one way or the other.
Inquiring minds really really want to know! :lol:

Thank you!!

Whatever feels good to you! No hard and fast rule anymore.

I've done both. What I noticed, if I pressed the seams open and used a poly batting, I had a little bearding. If I used W&N or Bamboo batting, no bearding. Never had the issue of bearding come up with seams pressed to one side.

So, what I usually do is if the block has a crap ton of seams meeting (like an intricate PP star) I press open and use W&N. Otherwise, it's whatever I feel like doing.

It still comes down to individual choice - and what the pattern/design calls for.

I usually press the seam down and then to the side; not always to the dark side though. I give a lot of thought to how the seams will nest if possible.

It is personal preference but I think that pressing open is not a good plan for stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, because you would be quilting down a thread between the pieces.

I prefer pressing to the side and when too many seams match at the center, I press those in the "flower pattern" in the center to where the bunched seam in the center is opened like a petal.

MadQuilter:Thank you for posting your thoughts about SID! I am working on a quilt that I was planning on doing SID. I am pressing to one side so lucky for me!! Thanks!

I have always pressed to one side and nesting the seams. I get a much better joint that way. With a bit of practice, I don't even pin them anymore. You can feel with your finger when the seams are aligned correctly, then just zip through and sew! So much faster that way.

Both! You do as you wish. As a I guide, I will not press to one side if the seam will show through the fabric ie it is a much lighter colour than one the it is matched with.

When I started quilting I read that the reason the seams are pressed to one side is because there is less chance of them opening up later. Made sense to me so that's how I do it.

This was the custom back in the hand piecing days. Since the hand piecing didn't make as strong as seam the seams were all pressed to one side for strength.

These days anything goes if you are machine piecing. Sometimes the quilt "talks" to you as how the seams will look the best.:)

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