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.

I was taught to press my seams open by my 1st quilting teacher & do so to this day. I think it really helps keep your stuff straight. And I also think it helps the completed top lay flatter when you sandwich it. Just my thoughts on the subject...

The other advantage... you don't have to do all that figuring about which seams goes what way. I see Eleanor Burns on TV & she's explaining how this one has to go this way so it will lock with the one that goes that way... forget that noise. Press them open & then you can just line the sewing lines up... voila!

I'm a hand piecer and hand quilter. Pressing the seams to one side seems to be the norm since the seams tend to be stronger. It does make for some bulk when hand quilting, though.

I also press them to one side. First I set the seam and then to press to the darkest. I've never had a pleat problem. Pressing them to one side keeps the batting from ever coming thru the seams in the future with washings and wear.

I have examined quilts I still have around from ten and more years ago that I pressed the seams open. No batting has come out the seams so far and I used a lot of fluffy poly batting found back then. No broken threads either. I use a small stitch length. Most of the quilts I made then were made from Walmart fabric blends, poly batting and 40wt thread that cost 2 spools for $1. Still looking good! Not heirloom of course but they are used a lot.

A long time quilting friend suggested I use a chop stick when pressing seams open. Next time we went out for chinese food, I asked for chopsticks and have used those since. Works great and no cost (other than the dinner, lol)

heheh..did you follow my direction?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...l-t176984.html

I, too, use that devise when I am pressing seams open. I usually have my iron set on maximum steam and get burned if I don't use it.

When hand quilting, if you want to stitch-in-the-ditch, you need to press the seams to one side. There is just no real "ditch" if you press the seams open. For hand quilters, I would say it depends on how you want to quilt it whether you press open or to one side. I also find that pressing to one side to form "locking" seams when joining pieces makes my piecing much more accurate. So I still vote for pressing to one side most of the time. I just press carefully to avoid that pleat.

pants and trousers are pressed open and they seem to hold up very well. I think quilts should do the same once they are quilted.

I very seldom press my seams - just depends on how many seams are coming together in one place. I do set my seams from the wrong side, as they are sewn, but I press from the "right" side and you will not get those little pleats. I always go back and check the back seam to make sure it is all like it should be. No problems at all and this is how I teach my students in my quilting classes to press. Set seams first and press from the front.

I do my seams this way also. I don't have to worry about the color of my thread if I don't press my seams open.

And boy, does it ever help with the small piecing for my Dear Jane blocks! Wish I'd done it from the beginning!

Everyone I know brings me chopsticks! They make good stilettos and are good for poking out the corners of turned items.

I also "iron" my seams open with a "wooden iron" - half of a sprung type clothespin - works great!

Still have to assemble the ironing doodad that jaciqltznok showed u how to make!

I usually iron to one side, want me one of them cool fingers tho!

Good idea, silver needle!

I always learn so much on the board. Thanks for all your wisdom, ideas and know-how!

I learned that when pressing seams open, to use a sewers ham (the long round one) and it works great. I flatten out the end by finger pressing about a half inch open, lay it on the ham and start pressing.