Pressing Strip Sets
 

Do you have any hints on pressing strip sets? I'm working on six strips in a set and each strip is two and a half inches. I need to press the seams to the sides, and some need to be pressed one way and some the other so they will match when the sets are sewn into blocks. I would like to get a nice, crisp seam every time without pulling and tugging those seams when pressing. More often than not I get a tiny fold of fabric over the seam line. Any advice would be appreciated.

Also, I'm using a cordless iron on high. It doesn't seem to get as hot as a regular iron. Could that also be part of the problem?

I first set the seam then on the top run the iron right on the edge of the seam holding one strip up. I don't try to press to the side at this point. This appears to heat the seam. I then go back with the iron and press the seam to the side. This extra step seems to keep those small pleats from forming.

on long seams like strip sets, I set the seam with the iron, then run my fingernail (or wooden iron) along the seam to start pressing it to the side. Then I follow up with a hot iron. Seems like if I just use my iron, I get little folds.

There is a tool made for pressing strip sets called The Strip Stick. It comes in 2 different lengths. (45" or 18")
www.thestripstick.com. made in Texas USA It is a stick with a cloth covered
curved pressing surface. Hope this helps.

I'll second this. You'll get perfectly straight strip sets every time. Plus you can press seams to one side or press them open. Wrong side up presses them open and right side up presses them to one side.

I also set my seam then I press from the front to avoid the little creases that can sneak in on me when I iron from the back. If, as usual, I'm pressing to the dark, I put the light down on the board and hold the dark up with my left (non-ironing) hand as I let the seam allowance lay to the side and press carefully - that probably doesn't make sense to any of you...does it?

When pressing strip sets I always press to the same side ( ususally darker) on each set. This seems to allow the seams to be alternate ways when sewing blocks together. Also I set the seam by lightly pressing seam closed before pressing to one side. I just did 20+ set and this pressing worked ever time.

I third the StripStick. If you cannot afford it, look for unfinished half-round molding in a hardware store (not all places have it; you do *not* want three-quarter's round). You don't even have to cover it with fabric (the StripStick is covered with muslin). Works great for keeping the seams straight, and you can press either to the side or open.

Here's a link to the type of wood you would need:
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/america...l#.UQ7Y2h3hq0I

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I am going to make strip sets tomorrow. Now I feel better about pressing them. Thanks!!!

I press from the front (right side) of the strip set, pressing toward the upper strip with the point of the iron. Then I go back over the set with the iron making sure there are no tiny folds along the seam line.

Jan in VA