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I am just finishing my first OBW. I pressed the seams to the side and had a terrible time sewing the hexagons together (thank goodness this was a cheap-fabric-learning-experience top for my own use) . I went back to the tutorial here, and the person said to press the seams open (guess I missed that the first time I read it). In this case, it makes sense. Otherwise I also press to the side and light to dark.
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Another reason to press to the side is the batting will not migrate out of the seam. If you use poly batts they beard anyway and it is more of an opening to do this.
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I very seldom press open and it is generally to avoid bulkiness. I think the seam that is pressed open is weaker.
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Originally Posted by JenelTX
Originally Posted by pineneedles4
Have you ever pressed open the seams? Did you like the results on the finished quilt? What is your experience?
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Originally Posted by clem55
Since I learned and did most of my sewing making garments, a pressed open seam was a natural. I never had problems matching seam lines where necessasry. When I stasrted making quits, I followed the rules about pressing to the side. For me this seemed to present more problems matching the seams, because no matter, I always seemed to end up with some blocks with the pressed seams going the same way at the joint. I have also noticed at times that while I thought I had the seam pressed flat. I sometimes had a little fold . Those little folds cause a problem if you get too many in a block. I am thinking I may go back to pressing seams open. I really don't understand the " stronger" issue at all. I have a pretty broad rear-end and my pressed open seams have held together darn good with the "pull" they get. LOL
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Originally Posted by grdmachris
Another reason to press to the side is the batting will not migrate out of the seam. If you use poly batts they beard anyway and it is more of an opening to do this.
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I interchange - depending on purpose, colours and bulk.
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I like to press open because it makes the block flatter and more even. It can be hard to do with the quarter inch but it is worth the time and trouble.
Originally Posted by kwilter11
The instructions for a scrappy quilt said to press the seams open. I'd never done it before, but it worked beautifully. I'm considering pressing them all open from now on (but it is a pain to to do) because I have a hard time getting my points to match when there's that big hump to go over.
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It really depends on what you are sewing. I made pinwheel blocks this weekend and I pressed the HST to the dark, then after I had sewn two HST blocks together I pressed the middle seam open. Then I sewed the two halves together and pressed the seams open. It created a lot less bulk at the middle. You need to play with pressing your seam each way and decide for yourself which way works.
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[quote=PaperPrincess]I think it's a situation of the proper technique for the proper job. If you are doing straight seams that will meet, pressing to one side to 'lock' the seam when they meet works well. Pressing open or twirling intersections reduces bulk on pinwheels, stars etc.
As far as the long arm quilters, the only thing I've heard is to always press the backing seams open, not necessarily all the piecing seams. Here's a good tutorial on pressing on this board: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-149984-1.htm[/quote I press seams so I can lock them like this tutorial :thumbup: |
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