Pressing seams -
 

A question -

Do any of you "mix" the way you press the seams?

Some to the side and some open - all in the same block or item?

Depends on the block but 99% of the time I press open.

About the only time I ever press a seam to a side is on curve. For example with my recent Grandmother's/Turkey Fan the blades are all pressed with the seams open and curves are pressed to one side. If there is a reason to do it "mixed" no reason not to.

I think it really depends on the bulk of the seam as to which ever way you choose to press the seam. I usually press to the side but sometimes that doesn't let my block lay flat so I press open. It is a personal choice.

Iceblossom-I saw your Turkey Fan quilt and it is adorable.

Me too. I do the same.

Yes, I do whatever pressing makes it “lay right.” So sometimes it’s pressed to mixed sides, or sometimes open.

I usually press closed to the darker print. That is the way I was taught years ago and I have just stuck to that process. I do look to see how much bulk there is at intersections. That sometimes causes me to change the direction but most of the time it lays flat for me.

It really depends on what works at the time...so perhaps mixed. Most of the time they are pressed to the dark side, twirl intersections if possible. Some seams are smushed one way and then the other.

The current quilt has while sashing. Some seams are pressed open. Some, I don't care just want it done. LOL!

The simple answer is yes - I mix my seams. Longer explanation - I depends on the bulk and how many seams intersect. I prefer them to all be to one side or the other (I do not adhere to press to the dark always). If I can get them all "going" in the same direction at an intersection and can spiral the seams so that it lays nice and flat, I am very happy. If trying to do that I end up with a bulky lumpy mess somewhere else on the seam I press open.

Almost always I press to the side.

working on a sampler right now that is definitely a mix. I have also found that pressing open the seams on half sq. triangles makes it all lay flatter too.

I often mix the way seams are pressed within a block. For instance, in my spiderweb quilt Deep Purple (https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...e-t302935.html), the wedges are strip pieced, with the seams pressed to the side, but the seams joining the wedges are pressed open because I have better luck matching the bulky centers that way.

Daffy

I press open because I find it easier.

I always press seams open, however sometimes a block will tell you how it wants to be pressed and I listen, I’m currently finishing a quilt that has mixed methods in it and while a majority of the seams are pressed open, there are a few that wouldn’t behave so I pressed them accordingly.

I usually press to the side. When doing stitch in the ditch, I'm not sewing through the stitched seam and risking breaking the thread of the seam.

Pressing seams open was so automatic when I did clothing, that it just carried over to my quilting.

It depends on the block for me. Most of the time, I press seams open, that's just how I learned to quilt, but I also know there are times that it's better for the block to lay flat that the seams needs to be on one side or the other. Blocks like the pinwheel are ones that I insist on pressing the seams open, way too many intersecting seams right in the middle of the block, the bulk and weight just feels weird, but blocks such as a nine patch, I can press to one side and I'm happy with it.

Recently I took a class for making Lallybroch Lane and I decided to make mine in the small size. Our teacher advised that on the small quilt to press the seams open, especially for the Lemoyne Star block. I'd heard of using 1/8th inch seams for smaller piecing but pressing seams open was news to me. She did recommend we also use a shorter stitch length.

What L'il Chickadee said about the shorter stitch length is important. I just updated another thread with similar questions that I believe in a smaller stitch if you press open and/or if you strip piece where you are cutting sub-units.

What I've observed over the last 5 years with my friends is the default stitch on most of the modern machines is a little too large for my style of sewing/quilting. The modern Bernina my friend gave me and I've been learning over the past year fooled me at first because it starts each row with a small set of stitches, but as I was cutting sub-units the stitches were coming out so I had to adjust the default to suit me.

Keep in mind, if you have a 1/4" seam allowance you need more than 1 stitch in there to be secure!

So what I do is sew two scraps together, cut it in half and tug a bit to open the seam, if 3-4 stitches loosen (not even come all the way out but if you see the deep V), tighten up your stitch. It's not a huge amount, just a bit makes things more secure and for those without vision issues but with patience you can still take out the stitches.

I like to press my seams in a way that facilitates nesting and flat seams.

I find it odd that a teacher would instruct you to press the seams on a Lemoyne star block open. It's so easy and reduces so much bulk if you swirl them.

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Sounds like your machine has an automatic lock stitch feature.

I also press open. Everytime I pressed to one side they were always on the wrong side and always flipping on me.

I mix my seams too but generally press to one side... I’m in the same mindset as Peckish, I like to press so that I can nest seams and sometimes “spin” a seam if it reduces bulk.

I usually press to the dark side only because that's the way I was taught. But I also spin seams where needed. It greatly reduces bulk.

Hello, Peckish,
You are correct, for constructing the Lemoyne Star the seams are pressed to the side then the center is spun. The class I took had a different way of construction which I found interesting. A few blocks involved some seams being pressed open followed by seams pressed to the side as the block came together. Just love taking a class where I get to learn different and new to me methods.

I also mix the way seams are pressed on the same block. If you know your blocks are going to have intersecting seams with the next block you can press to alternating sides and Nest your seams together for less bulk. The spinning of your intersections look neat...but I have not yet been able to do it myself....aaarggghh!! I have been taught also to always press my backing seams open with a 1/2 inch seam for durability. Another subject open for debate!!