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Quote:

Originally Posted by stewyscrewy

When I started quilting I didnt even own an iron or pins. so never ironed it or pinned I still dont pin. When I do hst now I will iron only cause I starch befroe I cut.

Well Son of Da Beach, I starch too! If I'm going to rotary cut I spray starch the fabric first...works for me! :mrgreen:

I never use pins - may have to try less ironing. You also have the difference between "Pressing" and Ironing, but that's a whole 'nother topic..

Did she finger press the seams?

If so, did she press them to one side or open?

Quote:

Originally Posted by miholmes

Yeah Kaye had a great way to describe finger pressing she said, "Here's the best iron you can get when piecing." and wiggled her thumb.

Then she said, "Need steam?" and licked her thumb....cracked me up.

How would I get my exercise if I didn't keep getting up from the sewing machine and walking to the iron, then back to the machine? My sewing studio is the basement and that's how I keep my body from locking up into one stiff position. I don't know if I could adapt to that technique since I am so used to using the "braille" method to make sure my seams sandwich nicely. It sure would be a time saver.

Sorry to disagree with Kaye but I've tried both ways and much prefer
pressing after every seam. I save a lot of time if I chain piece then press.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearisgray

Did she finger press the seams?

If so, did she press them to one side or open?

I'm wondering the same thing. Did she finger press, and did she measure for accuracy as she sewed pieces of the block together? I usually measure after I sew a seam. That might be difficult to do, if the seam isn't flat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minda

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearisgray

Did she finger press the seams?

If so, did she press them to one side or open?

I think if I've done the test strip thing before proceeding, I would be okay with just finger pressing parts of the block.

Quote:

Originally Posted by miholmes

I went to a class of hers last year about this time. Isn't she just a hoot?! I learned so much from her though.....

Quote:

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

Me too! Kaye England is an old Mary Ellen Hopkins tutee; MEH rarely irons either.

I don't think I could let go of the routine of sew, iron, sew iron it would just throw me off!! but I do sew without pins that I can do!