Pressing seams in borders...
 

When you are sewing a border of two fabrics, so you have one long strip of two fabrics which you will then attach to your quilt, do you press the seams open or to the dark side?

Thanks, Watson

Are you saying that they are different fabrics?? If so, it is best to miter the border. I usually prefer to attach my side borders on first. I remember hearing some rule to which side of the border to attach first, but I thought it was nonsense so I did it my way. The reason I do this is because I make mostly lap size quilts and since you will need to piece the top, you might as well have a longer piece to sew on. I also cut my borders the length of the fabric and cutting them this way, makes them closer in length. Hope this makes sense.

On the long borders on quilts, I usually press my seams open, regardless of whether there is a single fabric or multiple fabrics. Seems to make the join not as obvious. I do the same on my binding. And for the binding, I sew the seams on a 45 degree angle (think HST) so that all the bulk is not in one place.

I press seams to one side as often as possible...my one exception is when attaching binding strips, which are attached on angle, not straight across- those I sew open. Btw, I only miter border corners if the print is a design that is linear. Then I want that print running around center as a pic frame. Otherwise, just straight seam binding....if it's a solid or tonal, who sees all that extra work, and an all over print just blends in.....also a bit less fabric is wasted....

I usually press towards the border...less bulk.

As I understand it you are asking basically about joining long strips of 2 fabrics which will make up the border. I like to press them open, but I think its just a matter of choice.

When joining strips to make a border I cut as for binding strips and press the seam open. Once I sew it to the quilt then I press toward the border.

That's how I do it as well, but usually don't have to piece borders

I don't usually press my border seam open, I usually press them to the outside unless it is a lighter fabric - then I might press it open. If I attach 2 strips to make the border piece, then I do press that seam open.

I have started to press most of my seams open.

I press them open unless I need a ditch there. There are really only 2 reasons for pressing to one side:
-to make a ditch to quilt in
-to spin certain types of seams

I know there are some who claim that pressing all to one side "makes the seam stronger" but I've never had an issue with my seams coming undone unless I've used too long of a stitch to secure them. I made plenty of kids' quilts with all the seams pressed open (the method Leah Day teaches) and have yet to have any issues with my seams. But whatever works for you is what you should do. I don't think it will make a huge difference one way or the other.

same for me... most instructions I have followed suggest pressing seams toward the border so I've just continued to do so.

I'm confused. There seems to be two different conversations going here. One is talking about the seam that is created when you sew a border to the quilt top. The other conversation is about the seam that is created when you don't have enough length of fabric for your border and need to sew two pieces together.

When I'm sewing my border on the quilt top I press to the border side because there is usually less bulk that way.

When I'm joining two pieces of fabric to get the length of fabric I need for the border I sew on the bias (45 degree), trim my seam and press open. The seam becomes nearly invisible that way. I do the same when joining for binding.

I think a lot of people are not understanding the "two fabrics, so you have one long strip of two fabrics". Are these two fabrics side by side or end to end? I think either way it wouldn't really matter which way the seam is pressed.
If I am making a patch when I run out of fabric and have to piece a corner with the same fabric, I make sure to press that seam open, so it will be a little less noticeable. But when joining different fabrics when you will see the seam anyway, it could be pressed to the dark or open; either way would be fine.