Pressing Seams
 

Do you press your seams open or to the side?

I usually press mine to the darker fabric. If there is a lot of bulk, I will press open, but perfer to the side.

Depends - usually to the side (I have an easier time matching) but like Sophie2 when bulky, pattern requests it (like on a OBW) I will press open. Do remember if pressing open you should have your stitch length no longer than a 2 or on other machines probably no less than 12 stitches per inch.

Ditto!:thumbup:

Me too. The other thing I don't do with open seams is SID because there is nothing to hold down.

To the side. It is easier to butt the seams.

most of the time to one side- makes it alot easier to match seams correctly- once in a while if i'm working with bulky fabrics and not trying to match the seams i (might) press them open- or if the instructions say to press open- but (98%) of the time the instructions say to press them to one side.

I'm an open presser. For me I find it far easier to match seams this way. I've never gotten the hang of 'nesting' seams.

usually to the side. but today, i had to piece the backing and used a wider seam allowance with a smaller stitch, so i pressed it open

I press to the side except when piecing the back - those seams are pressed open. Just saw a picture in a magazine and the blocks had the seams done both ways. It was curved piecing so wonder if that is why it was done in that way.

I recently started to press my seams open and I find it makes it easier to get perfect matching seems. I also find it smoother to sew/FMQ. No lumps of seams.

I agree with what has been said, in general. When cross seams meet, however, there is a tendency for the fabric on top to be pushed out of alignment, even with a pin in place. Therefore, I have the seam allowance on top reach the needle before the seam itself. Sometimes this means clipping the seam allowance and folding it back to prevent shadowing.

I have done it both ways!

I always press to the side to butt seams. I rarely press open - only when necessary. I usually burn my fingers when I press open - OUCH!!

It depends on the pattern. I am working on the Charming Addition pattern which is pressed to the side. The Dresden Plate is pressed open. I consider the intersections and if seams are going to be thick I open them. I also will trim a bit of one side of a seam if there will be a thick intersection and it takes some of it away.
peace

I usually press the seam to the side unless there will be a great deal of bulk, e.g., pinwheels. Now that I am doing more FMQ, I may start pressing more seams open.

I almost always press open... I like my blocks to be as flat as possible.