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Ok I will admit, so no judging!! when I get lazy and don't feel like taking the time to iron I don't.. Sometimes it comes out wonky but for the most time im pleasantly surprised that it turned out just fine.. Ha! Who knew I was doing something right....
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I will have to try it! I usually am not far from my iron because I hate the wrinkles!
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I press half sq triangle seams before using the block.Most blocks are un pressed, then I press all before sewing into rows. Don't know why, but that's my way.
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Originally Posted by DebraK
Going to the ironing board is my only form of exercise ;-)
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When I first started quilting, I never pressed. Now I do because that's what the "experts" do.
I'm going to try not pressing again. I wonder what will happen!! |
my iron is right by my sewing machine an it don't
take that long to press |
I was lucky enough to attend a class with Kaye England here in Australia way back in 2003. What an absolute hoot of a tutor she is, haven't laughed so much.
On the Saturday the class was a Sampler quilt using different sized blocks and on the Sunday the class was called African Experience. It was "shocking" at first to not iron as you pieced but it didn't take long for the concept to sink in. I must admit I rarely use the iron now as I piece my tops, but I do make sure the fabric is pressed and starched before I start. |
What I learned about pressing quilt blocks was from quilters in our church. We were working on one together. You can come out with all different sizes of blocks if you have a tendency to stretch as you iron. If you are doing it yourself, it may be all right. But it sounds like a good plan to wait till you are done with the quilt before you press it.
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I'm a presser! Press after each seam is sewn.
As mentioned great exercise getting up and down to press :lol: This is definetly something new to me. But hey, shes the expert. :thumbup: |
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I actually just finished a top frm Eleanor Burns "Twistd Star" and I did a few blocks and did not get up to iron once until after I finish all the blocks in that set. Of course with Eleanor's patterns she makes it so simple but your right They came out perfect!!
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I have never heard of starching fabric before you use it. I'm pretty new to quilting but will definitely try it. I assume that steaming when it is all done takes out the stiffness; is that what you meant?
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On a similar note.....I was taught to press often also. I make a lot of pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer and that meant a lot of get up and press, sew another seam, get up and press, wash, iron, etc. Well, this week I decided to try it without getting up so often. I finger-pressed after each step and only ironed after they were finished and washed. Guess what -- they turned out just the same -- and my legs were a lot happier (LOL). I just hope my Home Economics teacher isn't turning over in her grave (LOL).
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Originally Posted by Prism99
What kind of block did you try this on? I'm wondering if it would work on a pieced log cabin.
In September I took a class from Kaye England. She had over a dozen of her quilts on the walls in the large room and you would not know it wasn't pressed until finished. My Bernina owner/quilter doesn't iron any of her quilts until she is done. And, she does beautiful quilting. I tried it... I like it. But, it does go against your normal inclination to press every seam sewn! :shock: :shock: |
Originally Posted by Up4BigChal
I actually just finished a top frm Eleanor Burns "Twistd Star" and I did a few blocks and did not get up to iron once until after I finish all the blocks in that set. Of course with Eleanor's patterns she makes it so simple but your right They came out perfect!!
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I've quilted for 20+ yrs and also taught classes. I do some of both, I finger press some blocks and others I press as I sew, depending on construction. I do a lot of strip & chain piecing so I can press a lot at one time
The MAIN thing new quilters need to know is to PRESS - not IRON !! You're NOT ironing a shirt ... Ironing (back & forth) distorts ANY block no matter how well sewn. Remember - PRESS don't IRON :) |
Originally Posted by DebraK
Going to the ironing board is my only form of exercise ;-)
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Originally Posted by DebraK
Going to the ironing board is my only form of exercise ;-)
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Originally Posted by nativetexan
i tend to like to iron as i go too. it seems difficult to me to iron a whole quilt top, even just doing the seams of rows is not fun. but i see her point.
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I'm like you where I want to starch and press as I go. I have realized though thru trial and error that you are chancing distorting the fabric. We just have to remind ourselves not to be so OCD and press later! LOL
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Originally Posted by jdavis
Originally Posted by nativetexan
i tend to like to iron as i go too. it seems difficult to me to iron a whole quilt top, even just doing the seams of rows is not fun. but i see her point.
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I took a class on y seams and our teacher told us not to press this type of block until completely finished. I like to press as I go but on this project I pressed one block as I sewed it and then didn't press until the second block was finish. It made a tremendous difference by not pressing.
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Cherylynne, That is the cutest little boy in you avatar.
adorable |
Originally Posted by miholmes
Did I get your attention?
I recently took a class with Kaye England and it was kind of a real eye opener. She made us all try creating a block her way just to see how it turned out. Here were her rules: Iron your fabric first Then you don't touch the iron again until the block is done. In the real world application it was until the quilt top was done. While piecing it together you would sew the dark toward the dar without pressing. Her philosophy was, if you measure it right, cut it right, and sew an exact 1/4 right. Then the block will turn out right. Well I will say this...I'm an ironer....I like to press it all so it like cardboard going through the machine. But when I did it her way I was astonished at how well the blocked turned out. Points were lined up GREAT and another thing....NO PINS! I wondered if anyone else quilts like this all the time? After such a successful first try, I think I will continue this way, it actually saves a lot of time running back and forth to the iron. So I would say if you think you might like to do it, TRY a block. I was kinda amazed, did I mention that I'm kinda in love with Kaye England now? :-D I never press a block until it is finished with one exception. If it is a rounded pattern, like drunkards path for instance, I do press each circle before putting the little blocks together to make a larger block. I usually make 8 then press all at once, then sew together and press again. The curves always all look the same. |
Love to sew this way. My friends think I'm nuts, but all my seams line up perfectly.... Go Kaye England!
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I just done some blocks without my iron. And they turned out nice. I just kind of pressed the seam down with my finger-nail. And it stayed and they all look nice. WOW what a difference.
And I have my ironing board right next to my machine. Just lowered enough to turn and use it. I use an office chair for my sewing chair. Just turn and press. lol No more getting up and going across the room for me... |
I just ironed my mostly finished quilt - then measured it to put on the last sashing & guess what? It was 2 inches longer than the pattern called for. I measured my kona cotton before & after I pressed it & it gained about 1.5 inches. Wish I'd read this post before I started. I wonder if washing the quilt will result in a lot of shrinkage now?
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I have been quilting for 51 years. The no Iron until the block is done is how I was brought up. As a matter of fact I was given only one pin for my sewing that is right one (1) pin. The pin works like a stiletto and a pin until the fabric has gone through the machine. The best thing is the amount of time that I save over those that press every seam.
I took a class at one of the local quilt shops and I spent a lot of time waiting for the pressing so we could go on to the next step. My blocks turned out next to perfect no ripping needed. Cut accurately, sew accurately, and check the seam placement before sewing. Try it I thing you will like it. |
Originally Posted by miholmes
. Her philosophy was, if you measure it right, cut it right, and sew an exact 1/4 right. Then the block will turn out right :-D
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I never iron until the whole quilt is done because I'm lazy. Glad to know there's a legitimate reason for not ironing. ;-)
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Originally Posted by QuiltingGrannie
I used to iron just when the block was done and they were ready to put together to make the full quilt top. Then I started ironing more often. Now iron less again.
But I actually rarely pin anything! Unless the seam line-up tends to give me a LOT of trouble being even. I figure if I've cut it right and hold my fingers on the seams to be sewn and hold my head at the right angle.... lol |
Interesting concept! I go with the quilters who need exercise! My formula: cut, pin, sew, press, trim, repeat . . . . . :-)
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Over time I have come to believe that each time you press with the iron your piece changes shape ever so slightly. Do it enough and your piece has changed a lot. I think that causes a lot of mis-shapen and ill-fitting pieces of a block.
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Gosh, getting up and ironing (in another room) is my form of exercise. I will finger press some seams, but go to the iron to set the seams. A lot of time I will press seams open--"oh my check for the quilt police"!!! grin.
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I went to one of her lectures about 1 1/2 yrs ago. She said the same thing. Said she could make that top in a day. I know she cut out ahead of time. LOL. I dont iron as much, but still pin for the intersections. cant manage without.
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I was just thinking about this while piecing my last lap quilt. I iron the seams to death. I did try not ironing as much and it turned out well. It justs kills me though to not iron! LOL
Vanessa |
I learned this the hard way. The ironing can really distort the fabric so no matter how accurate your measurments and cuttings are the blocks are not the same. Ironing the fabric before starting and then the completed top is excellant information.
Good that you brought this topic into the light! Had I known this years ago it could have saved me a lot of tears and frustration. |
I had a really hard time getting my last quilt to go together correctly. I am going to make an effort to not press the next one until the block is together! Thanks! and Thanks, Kaye!
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Thanks so much for sharing the Kaye England techique. I hate to iron but have been recently since they say it is the thing to do. Want to thank you for your time in posting this info. Have some Kaye England pieced kits to put together but right now working on a few unfinished projects.
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Originally Posted by miholmes
Did I get your attention?
I recently took a class with Kaye England and it was kind of a real eye opener. She made us all try creating a block her way just to see how it turned out. Here were her rules: Iron your fabric first Then you don't touch the iron again until the block is done. In the real world application it was until the quilt top was done. While piecing it together you would sew the dark toward the dar without pressing. Her philosophy was, if you measure it right, cut it right, and sew an exact 1/4 right. Then the block will turn out right. Well I will say this...I'm an ironer....I like to press it all so it like cardboard going through the machine. But when I did it her way I was astonished at how well the blocked turned out. Points were lined up GREAT and another thing....NO PINS! I wondered if anyone else quilts like this all the time? After such a successful first try, I think I will continue this way, it actually saves a lot of time running back and forth to the iron. So I would say if you think you might like to do it, TRY a block. I was kinda amazed, did I mention that I'm kinda in love with Kaye England now? :-D |
I rarely iron until all finished with the block. And I thought I was just a lazy quilter!
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