I learned to always press them to the dark side.

As a sewer I was always taught to press the seams open on garments but every book and pattern almost always tells you to press toward the dark to help lock the seams.

I you press them open the seam line is just the stitching so it would be like stitching over stitching.

I always press open. Just remember to make the stitch length shorter. I don't like the bulk when sewing the seams together.

I was taught this as well. Always press to the dark unless there's a directional decision to be made.

If you are pressing your seams open, a great way to do it is to use one of those "ham's" like they use for making clothing. It makes a nice open seam and you will not burn your fingers. If I know that I will be doing a heavy quilting on the quilt, I will use open seams. I always use an open 1/2" seam to piece my backings. I was taught to do that by a long arm quilter.

let the block or quilt tell you which way. topper

I press for construction and for me that means pressing my seams open when I have two triangle patches where the points will come together.

I wish I could figure out how to press each piece before I try to sew the rows together. I usually wind up with some of the seams going the wrong direction and wind up repressing. Sometimes you also have to take out a few stitches which really makes me mad at myself -- slows me down too. That may be my problem, not stopping to figure it all out before assembling the block.

Keep seam closed and press to the darker fabric.