Ironing seams
 

I just discovered something I know most of you already know, but for some newbies like myself, be careful when you iron your blocks! I was using a jelly roll to make a Rail Fence. I sewed the strips together and then cut into squares. As I was squaring them up I found several that were 1/8 inch too short. Something I had read on QB made me look at the seams. When I had ironed them in long strips I had created a pleat that had shorted my blocks. Fortunately re-ironing them corrected the problem. Good thing I read QB!

I iron my seams open because it eliminates the fold over pleat and since I have started to press the seams open and use very thin piecing and bobbin thread, my sewn pieces are the correct size and my blocks piece together so much better. I know the reasons given for pressing to one side but it's only necessary in some cases.

I guess that I learned to press them to one side, and just can't make myself press them open. Anyway, I always burn myself when I open the seams on the binding. Ouch!

I also press my seams open if the piece will need to be matched with another piece. For some reason, it is more accurate for me to do it this way. If I am not matching seams, such as Rail Fence, I find that I can keep my seams pressed more accurately and straighter if I cut on the fold, so I'm only dealing with half the width of the fabric. Glad you figured out your problem and corrected it! Linda in MO

I love this little simple item. It's flexible I can feel the seam and no more ouch! http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=269

Where there's a need, a gadget/tool will be created.

I have a large half piece dowel that i use to press seams open...works wonderful

I press my seams open also. I find it helps the blocks lay flatter and eliminates bumps from bulky seams. Trying to quilt over those bulky seams is a real pain in the keister.

Sometimes I now will press some seams open. Hand sewers use to press the to one side to make the seams stronger. Using a sewing machine to stitch them would eliminate the need for pressing to one side.

I had DH glue 2pieces of quarter round together to make a pressing tool for pressing seams open. This makes a nice little flat area on the top just the right size form the seams to lay. Got the idea here on QB. He just brought home some more so we can make several in different lengths for differen pressing surfaces and/or block sizes.