Pressing seams
 

Good morning,

I have a quilt block I am making that has numerous seams and it says to press the seams to one side. I prefer to press my seams open, especially with so many, to reduce bulk. Will this matter in the end? Thanks.

Although I like the way that seams nest together when you sew seams to the side, I like the less bulky appearance of seams pressed open. If I have quilt blocks that are sewn exactly the same and will be laid out exactly the same I will usually press seams to the side so that seams can nest. But, if I have blocks that are going to be rotated so that you can't quit figure which way the seams will go, I'll press all the seams open. If I have numerous seams, like with a star, I press the seams open. Clear as mud, huh?

No it makes sense. Thank you. These blocks are made of different shapes, triangles mostly, and will be set en point. Thanks

It's very rare that I press my seams to the side. I press open whenever possible. For me, I find it easier to match points with open seams as well as getting a much flatter block. I say go for it!

I too always press open, everything is far easier to match, easier to long arm and it my preserves my sanity. Do shorten your stitch length.

Maybe split the difference and spin them? These are 1.5" squares, 1" finished.

in your case, what goes next to it is probably what should be considered?

I have started pressing the seams open. Use a short stitch length. Leah day goes through this on her site. I think it is also a you tube video.

Another thing to consider is the quilting plan for your quilt top after it's assembled. If you want to stitch in the ditch you have to press the seams to the side to create the ditch for yourself or your longarmer. You can do that consistently- throughout the entire quilt- or selectively-just the seams where the blocks join together. Something to think about.

I've been pressing my seams open for the most part for decades. Periodically I try the to the side method and I simply do not get the same accurate results. A lot of it just depends on what you are used to, me I use lots of pins and press all the time.

I'm currently working on a fan quilt. I do usually press curved seams to one side and I have been doing that. My fan blades are pressed open but all the other seams (including the sashing now) are pressed to the side. Just works better with curves.

I always press to the side, easier to match intersections.

I do both. It's easier for me to match seams with them pressed to one side. But when there are lots of seams, like when two flying geese units meet at the point, or when there's a long seam full of seam intersections, I'll press open.

I do like to "twist and shout." or "spin them" like KamalaQuilts, whenever I can; which starts with nested seams.

Interrupting your regularly schedule thread to say:
That is so pretty. I would be tempted to quilt it inside out :thumbup:.
That is all. Carry on.

About pressing, I don't follow rules, but instead press however it makes the most sense for the block. It just depends on the block.

I am a press to the side gal but on occasion I do get a pattern that suggests open seams and I follow the directions of the pattern. Now, last year my guild was doing exchange blocks and we did find that the blocks measured differently when the seams were open and when they were pressed to the side. The difference was slight, but slight difference over say 6 seams (within the block) makes a difference in the final size of the individual block. We were directed to press seams open to create a more flat final block that would fit together well....and they did. :)

I don't snip and spin my joins. I learned to pop them and they automatically spin. I learned this from Donna Lynn Thomas class. No need to feed them in the machine a certain way like Bonnie Hunter does.

I do both, depending on how the project is going to be quilted. IF it's going to be a bit heavier around the seams, and pressing to one side makes bulk, then I press open. It a matter of preference for the most part. But that said:

My main concern with seams pressed open is will the batting show through after time with open seams. I've had that happen with open seams and often used/washed quilts.