Anyone have an answer??!! :?

I think it's totally personal choice. I usually press to the side because I mostly quilt in the ditch. But sometimes if I think it's going to be a really bulky seam, I press open. Pressing open does alleviate the headache of deciding which direction to press. I always end up with seams that don't nest and have to repress or just have it really bulky on one side if I can't repress.

I always press to one side. I also press the seam while it is still closed to set the seam before I press it open.

I always press open - back side first then the front

I press to the side. Somewhere along the way I was taught that it kept the batting from bearding through the seams.

I set the seam and then press to the side

I always press to the side now. I turned in 2 blocks for charity quilts and was told that pressing open is incorrect, apparently it can pull open over time or something...supposedly it makes it stronger to press to the side. I grew up with a garment sewer and have seen lots of strong open seams. I gues it is personal preference. I did look it up if you're interested http://www.scrapquilts.com/pressing.html

See also
http://www.equilters.com/library/techniques/SeamsOpen.html

she agrees with me, and for all the same reasons. therefore, i hereby declare: she must be right. :lol: :lol: :lol:

of course, this article is right, too.

must be one of those cases in which we're all right and nobody's wrong. gotta love it. :P

I've noticed most patterns call for pressto the side. A few call for the seam to be open. Me to the side.

:lol: :lol: I agree with you DJ! I think it is harder to press them open, but there have been times when I just had to have them open because of the bulk. I normally press to the side. But I really like the rule of pressing for construction.

Well I do think thats its a matter of preference. As someone who made a lot of clothes I always pressed open, UNTIL I started to quilt and someone told me off. I now do press to the side because I think it makes for a stronger seam line. Thats my 1 euros worth LOL

Elle

I generally press to one side, but every once in a while I have a bulky intersection of seams that can be reduced by pressing open instead.

I think it's a personal choice. My feeling is that if I have a lot of bulk, I'm better off pressing the seams open. Otherwise, I usually press the seams to the side. But that's just me.

Katrine,
Thanks so much for the link! I too have been called obstinate & difficult LOL. Probably not too hard to imagine....ok, and a few other lovelies I won't repeat. Now I won't feel so terrible if I press open from time to time.

Thanks Everyone!!
I am making some tote bags for a silent auction and decided to make one side with seams open and the other side of the tote with seams to one side, and i definitely prefer the seams to the side! MUCH EASIER to nest when you have to match seams up for sewing together rows!!!

LOVE this group of quilters! Thanks again!

I always press my seam to the side. It helps me line up my points when I sew my blocks together.

Janie

http://www.appliquequiltdesigns.com

I think it is really a matter of personal choice. I used to always press to the side but have since found that my quilts go together for me better if I press open. I bought one of the small Clover irons and it works great. I may switch back to side pressing on a different pattern though, so I say what ever works for you at the moment, go for it!

It all depends on the quilt. I press light to dark when possible but sometimes when you have a row you have to alternate the pressing so they go together smoother and you don't get a bunch and not be able to quilt through it. I think it's more a construction thing. Like with a log cabin I press towards the outside of the center square.

For those of you that press to one side, just once on a small project with lots of seams press the seams open and see how much flatter it lays. So much better in apperance and feel. And last just as long. At least that is how I feel about the subject.
I tried both ways, and I think everyone should to make an informed choice. :D

I like to press open. BUT, no matter how many times I backstitch at the end, there's no doubt, the open seam is not as strong. I'm always having unraveling. I back stitch religiously to make sure that won't happen and can never understand why it happens. I use a short stitch to make sure it doesn't happen and can never understand why it happens.

There's just a lot of wear and tear on your pieces while you're working on them and the seam just doesn't hold up.

That's my experience.

But, I'll ditto that they lay flatter, have less bulk and appear much nicer. They just don't hold up as well until you finally assemble everything and quilt it down for good.

[quote=Cordelia]I like to press open. BUT, no matter how many times I backstitch at the end, there's no doubt, the open seam is not as strong. I'm always having unraveling. I back stitch religiously to make sure that won't happen and can never understand why it happens. I use a short stitch to make sure it doesn't happen and can never understand why it happens.

I don't get it. Mine never open. I was thinking maybe it was your stitch length but if you use a short one that would not be why. I don't even back stitch and mine are strong and never unravel. Maybe your tension, is that a possibility? I'll keep thinking. Did you go to the site that is first mentioned in this decussion. Maybe it says something there. Because I really don't ever backstitch and never have unraveling or anything. ;)