Pressing
 

Just finished a jelly roll race. When I went to press the seams , I first pressed to set the seam and then to the side. However, they won't stay to the side. Help?:mad: and :confused:

I see you've had quite a few views and no answers. I'm not sure I can tell you why they won't stay to the side, but you could try steam or spritz them with water before pressing. Are you using batiks? They seem harder to press to me. They are stiffer. Must be the wax or something.

Thanks. No not batiks, just cotton. They went sortof to the side, just not crisp. I'm about to applique on top and did not want the seams to shift.

Some Best Press can help solve that ... along with a good hot iron.
Good Luck!

That would be what I would try.

Thanks, was afraid to use Best Press now.

Check out the info for strips and pressing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNyISYL5ZIg

Make sure you aren't stretching the fabrics with the iron tip. I also use heavy starch on fabrics to help the seams stay in place.

Great video. Thank you.

When I make a jelly roll race, I don't press seams until the sewing is all done. That makes the seams act naughty when you go to set them. So how did you set the seams? If you first pressed them to the side to set them, then you re-pressed some to the other side to nest them, that could be the problem.

Did you press them to the side on the back side of where the fabrics were sewn and then press them the same direction from the good side as well? That often flattens them out for me. Just as often, though, I live with some of the seams not being nested. Seems I am not a perfectionist...

If you are planning on washing the quilt before gifting/using it, and all other options fail, try some washable glue to hold the seams in the direction you want them to lay. Just be careful not to stretch the fabrics while gluing and pressing.

Hope that helps!

Have you checked the heat setting on your iron? I say this because I had the same issue once, couldn't figure out why the seams weren't behaving properly......finally noticed that somehow (not naming names) the control got turned to a lower setting......after cranking it back up to cotton, things went smoothly and flatly! lol

That is a great video...sometimes if my seam is narrower than 1/4” it will not press easily to one side.

Do you have one of the wool pressing mats? They help to make your seams flatter as the heat from the iron makes the mat hot and the fabric gets hot from the top and bottom.

Perhaps it is your iron. I have a travel iron that just will not stay hot and drives me crazy!

A clapper will set the seams perfectly. If you have a big solid piece of wood like a flat cutting board that will work like a clapper and cover more seams. Use the linen setting on your iron and be sure the fabric is hot.

I would use starch, too; but I use Sta-Flo diluted with half water. Works wonderfully.

Why? It's just starch.

My thought also.