I like steam but you only press with it. No ironing.
Your seams are as good as it gets and once it is quilted you will not see any bulk.

I always press away from my points. the point is the center of the flying geese. when joining them, i still press the point away, even if that means pressing the side of the next flying geese toward itself. points are more important.

My work should be that lumpy. It looks fine to me. Are you sure you're not being to critical of your own work?

In a class I took a few months ago the teacher had us just remove enough stitches at the meeting point to be able to open it up and iron it flat. Hope this makes sense.

Granny, granny, granny - svelt geese and exposed back sides - lol
I am already in stitches thanks to your post.

As to the pressing, I'd try the open method. It seems to be getting a lot of attention lately. I was one to follow the "press to the dark side" (now that might explain my dark humor - :twisted: ) but ran into the same problem as you did. Now, my backside can be a bit inconsistent and unorthodox. I press the way the seam wants to go naturally. Next batch, I'll try to press open.

Nice geese btw!

Okay, I think I GOT it!! You won't believe the difference! From lumpy to nearly flat!! I'm happy with this second block, and here's what I did different.

1. Used a finer thread for pieceing; a 2 ply, not a 3 ply (Aurifil).

2. Pressed all seams open as I went (instead of to one side).

3. Starched everything as I went.

4. Used Pam Bono's "Angler 2" (no affiliation) - why didn't I use this prize before?! Gives me MUCH better control, both for stitching the diagonal line when doing the 'stitch and flip' method of making Flying Geese (no more drawing that line) and made making a 1/4" stitch MUCH easier to do/see on her ruler. YAY!!

Thanks to ALL of you, your most helpful comments and heartfelt compliments! Hmm, maybe I was being a bit too critical... But, if you could only FEEL the difference in my blocks now. Here is the new and improved block.

I'm doin' the Happy Dance now, Karla in CO

I've done that with pinwheels and most other blocks where 4 or more units met in the middle. It really does help. Thanks so much.

Karla in CO

Jolly good show, old girl! <G>
old as in ESTABLISHED ... LOL

Hi MadQuilter,

I'm so sorry to hear that your backside is a bit inconsistent and unorthodox, tee hee. :lol: Mind if I use that term next time DH complains about mine?! :lol: :wink:

Yep, seriously, open was the way to go on these geese, and probably will be on some other blocks, too. I'm definitely a convert, now. I'm guessing you might be just as jubilant as I am with my 2nd block - see new pic I just posted. Thanks too, for your compliment. :)

Less Lumpy in CO - the block, that is... :lol:

LOL .... reminds me of when we were establishing this place. Dad was busy selecting four heifers for me to start with. We lived across the state from each other, so we spent many hours talking via phone.
About the 300 th time I heard him say, "OH, you have just got to see her rump! It is round and smooth, straight across the hips, wide ... she is just beautiful! She's going to do a good job for you."
Finally, being the willful child I tend to be I said, "I have NEVER heard you wax poetic about the fine figure of a woman I am!"
LOL