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scrappy diva 07-31-2009 05:32 AM

I have been opening my seams for years and like the look the blocks get. Easier to press and match up to other blocks!!!

Rose Marie 07-31-2009 07:45 AM

Some experts press open seams. Think about it clothes are pressed open.
Pants you sit on are pressed open.
I do both ways, If Im not sure about which way to press I do open.

mar32428 07-31-2009 08:43 AM

I also found that I was losing some of my seam allowance when folded to one side and sometimes I had a bimp where these seams crossed. Anybody else have that problem?

mar32428 07-31-2009 08:43 AM

That's bump. Sorry.

shaverg 07-31-2009 09:21 AM

I learned to open my seams when I first started quilting in 1983. Then I took some classes later that kept saying press them to the side. I am going back to pressing them open. I think it will make it easier when I am handquilting. I hate having to go through all those seams.

HMK 07-31-2009 10:24 AM

Oh how I wish I'd read all this before doing the latest BOM. The pattern did say to press seams open for accuracy but did I listen - nope - I knew better and was taught to press to one side. Well the pattern maker knew what they were talking about - ended up with lots of bulk in some seams, areas that didn't want to lie flat and some spots were difficult to get good points because of the bulk. I'm going to try to press open on the next quilt.

weezie 07-31-2009 11:52 AM

My second comment on this subject: As my personal preference and because of my low boredom threshold, I do not construct all my quilt blocks first and then put them together. In the past, when I've sewn all the blocks first, I've gotten some nasty seam allowance surprises when it was time to attach the blocks and rows to each other. Now, I mostly do 1 row at a time and can see immediately where I need to open my seam allowances so I don't have bumps, lumps or distortions and can also see where it's more feasible to press them to one side. Since I'm a bit challenged in the physical coordination area, I've done a lot of fun experimenting with all things quilty. I'm sort of a "make my own rules as I go" person.

sunnyhope 07-31-2009 05:20 PM


Originally Posted by sewmuch
I have been working on blocks for a wall hanging and for some reason I started ironing the seams open, voila, they sure lay alot nicer when there are several in one block. :lol: :lol:

Can you show me a photo so i m totally sure on what you mean so i will do it correctly :wink:

I thought you should iron the seams to the sides, like every other etc :oops:

kd124 07-31-2009 10:56 PM


Originally Posted by kathyd
By the way, are those the "Happy Cows" from California in your avatar? The commercials on TV are very clever and usually catch my attention when they come on. My favorite one is from a while back when the cows would be laughing because their feet were being tickled by an earthquake (not funny I'm sure if you live there)!!!

I wondered about that as well. I can watch them over and over.

It depends on the block which way I press. I only press open when there is bulk.


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