Pressing - why not steam?
 

I was taught that I shouldn't use steam when pressing quilts and seams. But why not? I've just been looking at a Craftsy course in which the instructor does use steam, and I realised that I have no idea why I don't! This time I did, with very good results.

I think it is "supposed" to give the fabric the chance to be stretched....but I also think it is a personal choice. Sometimes I use steam and sometimes I don't. :)

Dina

I always use steam for everything. I love the way it makes things look and feel. Just because it 'can' stretch fabric doesn't mean it will if you don't iron like someone hanging wallpaper (i.e., scrubbing every which way). It's good to try doing things new ways just to see what happens. :)

I found steam to be bad about distorting HST's. For that reason, I quit using steam and just set my iron on the hottest setting...linen. I get a good press and don't have to worry about shrinkage or a block going wonky on me.

Edited to add: The act of just putting the iron on the HST's with steam would actually shrink the fabric and not evenly. I got to practice ripping a lot of blocks and sewing again, with a bigger scant quarter to get the blocks to fit. And, some fabrics shrink more than others.

Second edit: If I have a wrinkle that won't press out, I turn the fabric over and spray a light coating of spray starch on the back side. Then I flip it over and press on the right side. That takes the wrinkle out almost every time. This includes the center fold line.

I use steam and never a problem. I don't push hard at seams, I iron... You can't get wrinkles out or set and iron a nice block without steam. Just my opinion.

It probably depends on how you handle the iron as well as the quality of the fabric. I sometimes steam, sometimes don't.

It is a personal choice. Just be careful not move the iron around too much on the fabric. I come down straight, press steam and then lift up.

Did you ask the person who taught you this why you shouldn't? He/she might have a good answer.

Personally, I like to use steam. Along with all the other reasons listed above, steam can be quite beneficial when I'm sewing bias edges and trying to match seams. Makes the fabric behave.

I use steam too, just seems to get the seam to lay flatter. But I do think it can cause some distortion.

Oh I've always used steam to set my seams. Never had a problem. Now i don't add water to my iron so sometimes I remember to spritz with water and then press.

I use steam and starch together. I think the steam seeps the starch into the fibers.

I think this is absolutely probable. I've noticed that if I spray starch on fabric, then spritz water on the starch, then iron, I *never* get flaking.

I like the flat seams I get, so I press with steam.

Thank you for mentioning this. I have been using a dry iron and a spritz bottle of water. Maybe it isn't the best thing to do. I will try dry ironing as I work on blocks to compare.

As people have said there is the possibility of distortion with some areas stretching or remaining straight. Personally I dry iron for most pieces but have been known to steam those thick seams especially where you have a bunch of points.
Try yourself using steam and see if you like it. We live in a free country.

Fascinating! Thanks for all the replies. It's good to question the way I do things from time to time. Given that I pre-wash, shrinkage shouldn't be a problem, so I'm going to start to use steam. However, I take the point about distortion of HSTs and small pieces in general, so I'll maybe not do so all the time.

Thanks for this tip, Barb - will definitely try it, especially on those difficult centre fold lines. I've had trouble with those recently, trying to use up fabrics that have been sitting in a drawer for too long.

The big pro steam presses don't iron. They press with top or bottom steam or both. If you wanted to make sure nothing distorted, you put pins in it or found another way to hold the shape before steaming.

I suppose if you want to steam HSTs - you can pin them and blast steam from above the pins and don't touch them with the iron. Wait until dry and cool before unpinning.

I use steam all the time because I prefer it. I do make an exception, however, when I'm working with bias edges as they are so easy to stretch. Steam away!

I was watching a Love of Quilting rerun recently and Maryanne Fons was asked if she used steam. Her reply was that she uses steam until her iron runs out of water -- and then she doesn't! :D:D

I use a pressurized boiler iron (Reliable i500) which uses dry steam from a separate pressurized steam tank. Don't have a problem one with distortion . . .but them I'm careful to "press" not iron.

Which is why I now soak my fabrics in HOT water and then wash and dry them BEFORE cutting them. It takes care of most of the shrinkage and minimizes unpleasant surprises later.

I have also found that if I cut the fabrics so that the threads in the completed block will be perpendicular to the edge of the block, and then press with the grain lines, I seldom have any distortion.

I'm a steamer and starcher. I want my seams flat and to say in place.

I love steam but I am careful. I press rather than iron & that helps a lot from distorting the piece.

I use steam when I am ironing out the wrinkles when I was fabric and when the quilt top is finished, all pieced and ready for layering. I know that I tend to stretch my fabric when I use steam. I often hear that we are supposed to press not iron our pieces. Ironing with steam will distort a cut piece. Pressing without steam works well. Bottom line, is adjust how use my iron to what I am doing within the process of creating a quilt.

I use steam. If iron goes empty I spritz until I refill. Have not had a problem with it. Just set iron on, lift and set in a new position. All the other "steamers" are right...not a lot of movement back and forth with the iron!

In the Craftsy class that's made me think about this topic, Winnie Fleming uses steam. She sets the iron on the fabric, takes her hand off it very briefly, then repeats. This means it's definitely pressing rather than ironing. I was nervous about scorching the fabric, but in fact it works very well - my seams are beautifully pressed and I guess the steam ensures no scorching.

I use steam and I also use a spray bottle with a vinegar water mix. It helps relax the wrinkles. I give the fabric a shake after using the spray bottle then press without tugging on the fabric. No distortions.

I always steam and have had no problems. I don't think I get good result without it. I like really flat seams. The concern seems to be that you are more likely to stretch the material with steam. I'm just careful not to pull my material.

I almost always use steam on my block seams. makes them flatter.

Eleanor Burns always uses steam, so does Mary Fons. I guess if they do then its OK

I like steam when it comes to pressing seams because it makes them lie flatter. I stopped using steam much of the time when piecing because I was stretching the fabric, I think. As others have said, it's a matter of preference and how careful you are willing to be.

I have a quilting friend who says to "steam it into submission." Sometimes you can work out lumps and bumps with steam.

I press or iron very gently on triangles , sometimes with steam, sometimes without. Starch helps , but just avoid stretching the fabric on the bias by using just enough movement to get the job done.

I usually use steam, but you have to have a light hand or your can cause more problems that you solve with pressing. I don't disagree with those who don't use steam. In my classes, I'd say 80% of quilters didn't have a light enough hand to use steam. Many of these quilters were beginners. Steam is a problem to use with some pieces because it's almost impossible not to mess up the grain. My suggestion is to try it on something that isn't going to kill you if you mess it up. Then decide from there steam or no steam. I don't use steam on very small pieces due to risk of burns.

If I have prewashed the fabrics, I will use steam, but I am always afraid that steam will distort the shape of the block or pieces that I am pressing. Like others have said, it is a matter of choice and depends on the quality of the fabric.

Steam or spritzing could potentially shrink your patch work

Me too! I love a little steam. I don't iron. I press which does not distort the fabric. I think some of these rules, like pre-washing and no stem were made when people were working with less reliable kinds of fabric. We are buying quality fabric (it better be at $12-$15 @ yard) Honestly I am way more cautious when I am using JoAnnes and some Walmart fabrics that have so much sizing they can stand alone and you can shoot beans through it.