A quick swipe with the iron won't hurt anything no matter how you do it. A hard ironing will be a problem. For bias edges I use a lightweight fusible interfacing on the fabric before cutting. That bias isn't going anywhere.

I tend to iron with a light hand when getting the wrinkles out of washed and starched fabric. I press the seams to set them -- sometimes with steam and sometimes not. I also use a tailor's clapper if there are a lot of cross seams since the pressure on the steamed seams really helps flatten the seams.

Doesn't this depend on how much vodka you have had? :D Just kidding.

I typically iron. If I try to press, then when I turn the fabric over, the fabric bunches about a 1/4" so there is a new ironing line where there isn't supposed to be one. One more crease to get out. No thank you.

I think if you have a lot of bias you can make you blocks off but regular straight seams I have never had an issue ironing, and I steam the heck out of everything, doesn't really affect my blocks but I use good quality cotton

I took a class and found out using a white fluffy towel on top of the ironing board helps with fabric not getting distorted. Plus the small pieces stay put! I use the towel all the time now. Use white just in case of color bleeding

This is something I keep meaning to try. It sounds like a great way to make sewing a lot easier.

I have taken several classes and was told by nationally known teachers not to use a fluffy towel as the block or piece will sink in and distort. LOL

I use the Steady Betty to press my quilt pieces and it's great. The fabric does not move.

Batting tape works great for putting on the sewing line when making HSTs.

But doesnt that fluffy towel get smooshed down pretty quick when pressing?

I have seen Jenny iron her blocks and amazed since it is a bad habit to teach new quilters. Since I oversize my blocks, I stitch, starch, press then trim. Once they are blocks, I carefully press them sometimes when they have been stitched together.