I prefer to press to one side, but the pattern dictates this. Sometimes if there is too much bulk at an intersection, it is best to press open. If you plan to SID, it is best to press to one side.

Mostly I press to the side because it is easier. Sometimes the pattern is better pressed open. Whatever works for what I am working on.

Last year my sister and I were making the same exact quilt (BOM) and compared our first block. She followed the pattern's instructions about pressing to the side. I like to press open. My block was flatter, with nice crisp seams, and she wanted to know how I had managed it. I have quilted her quilt tops with side-pressed seams for her and found them to be difficult at times, where the bulk of the seams coming together made it difficult to quilt over. As a quilter, I prefer open seams; you get crisper lines, less bulk, and no humps to deal with.

I only press seams open if I am working with very narrow strips, half inch or less finished width. I press to the side even where multiple seams meet, in the center of a star for instance, because I spiral them to eliminate the bulk. With sharp pressing, all seams lie flat...and that's without pounding on them with a hammer. SID is not technically possible (nor acceptable in competition) with open pressed seams since there is no 'ditch' (lower side), but I think many quilters now sew right on top of the stitching line instead of a thread or two to the side of it.

Why do I press to the side?...By pressing to the side I guarantee the seam threads will not be visible thus giving me wider freedom with piecing thread color; I save the hassle of trying to smoothly press quarter inch seams open; I guarantee nested, matching seam intersections; I can smoothly flip from setting the seam to side pressing without putting the iron down; I assure that wool batting will not peek through seam lines; and, for many of my quilts, I want the added dimension of higher and lower areas that side pressed seams can emphasize.

Like so much with quilting, it's a personal choice. Even if pattern instructions have a suggested pressing plan, you are free to do entirely as you choose.

I don't think a hammer would have helped when it came time to quilt the top. The longarmer (who was also my customer) thanked me for pressing them open, as it made HER job much easier.

Thanks, everyone. You folks have given me a lot to think about.

~ Carla ~

If a block has more then four seams I press open.

I have seen quilts with the batting bearding thru flat open seams. I prefer to nest my seams but occasionally, there is the need to press them open. I have never had to resort to pounding my seams.

I am a switch presser -- it depends on the project.

Depends on the pattern and what works best. I do mostly use seams pressed to the side.