I agree that if it looks good to you, then it's the right way. Remember, artists have their own style....

I'm making a Jacob's Ladder right now, and all the four patches are "furled" - all the seams go clockwise around the patch. So two are pressed toward the light and two are press toward the dark. The center opens up to reveal a tiny four patch as you press it. That way the patch has no up or down and matches up so that seams nest; the top seam faces away from you and the bottom seam toward you. The bottom seam will not "flip" the wrong way when feeding. You can see the top seam to assure that it goes under the needle correctly.

I always press to one side; mostly the dark side. But sometimes it needs to be pressed toward the light as you are putting the pieces together. The only time I press seams open is at the middle of a pinwheel or star or such, where more than four seams are coming together. My sewing machine has no trouble FMQing over this.

And if I get to a seam and both are going the same way, I'll flip one. So don't you go looking at the back of my quilt! LOL

I think pressing to one side is so much faster and easier. The only seam I'll always press open is the seam on the binding, to reduce bulk.

I agree with NJ Quilter. It really doesn't make any difference. I press all my seams open now. I don't have to worry when I put the blocks together which way the seams are pressed. I think they lay flatter, too.

I do either one -- if there are a lot of pieces joining together I will press open. I press to one side (not always the dark side) when I think it will work to have the seams go in that direction. Flannel I always press open to reduce bulk.

Here Here!

I can't get my seams to fit right if I press them open so I just turn one seam one way and the other the opposite.

I like pressing open for all these same reasons, however...how do you all accomodate the seams starting to pull apart when the seams are pressed open?

I press to one side, usually the darker unless there is a particular reason to press open. I like that there is fabric beneath the seam, not just batting. I hand quilt so quilt stitches are not as tight as with a machine. Right now I am making all my quilts to be heirloom. Once I get everybody covered, then who knows. I will probably do what ever is quickest.

Thanks for this info!! I've been wondering about the differences for a while, and am glad to know now!!

I also press my seams open, with the sole exception being when I know I'm going to SITD, which isn't all that often. I love the seams open because the quilt lies flatter. I do shorten my stitch length when I know the seams will be open and that helps a lot. However, when I come across a seam that is starting to open, I just dab a bit of "glue baste" on it and make sure it dries shut. That takes care of the problem! With the short stitches, I don't need to do this very often, and it makes more sense to me than trying to backstitch at every seam. That said, I will backstitch if I know there will be a lot of pressure on the seam.

I know! Long answer for a short question! LOL!