You place the seam on your board unopened and press (not iron) it flat as it come off the machine. Then you press it to one side which is usually the dark side. You don't open the seam at all. Clear as mud?

On a block that the seam will be pressed to the dark, place the stitched block with the dark on top. Apply the iron over the seam and hold for a couple of seconds. The seam is set. Then lift the dark piece and slide the iron without stretching the fabric to press the seam (It will be the right side of the seam.) flat. You can do this with the light piece on top and the seam will be pressed to the light.

I looked at the link for the steady betty,but I'm not sure exactly wht or how the steady betty works?? Is it a hard surface like a pressing sheet?? Sorry for being dense, but don't get it.

thanks

Dont apologize--I don't understand it either, but I was embarrassed to ask.

When I took my first quilting class a nuber of years ago, that's how we were taught...to set the seams before pressing to the side, so that's all I've ever done.

I always set the seams.

I am thinking that most of us are working with fabric that is not pre-washed .... and, even if it is, the principle is the same.
When you stitch through fabric, you are usually leaving a sizeable hole, even though you are using a smaller sized needle. The result of pulling thread through the hole to create the stitch also puts tension on the sides of that hole.
So, you take the iron, put hot steam to it, and in effect, it makes the fabric pull together tighter, and possibly makes the stitches pull closer through the layers.
Finger pressing will also accomplish good results. <wave>

I always pre wash fabric.I`ve heard that pressing closed seam (Setting)smooths out any gathering that may have occured during stitching.

I always set the seam first. Not sure where I learned about it, but it does make a difference.

I just found this explanation online , "Before you press a seam allowance to one side, put your iron down on it flat, just as it was sewn. Don't move the iron back and forth--let its weight do the work for you. This step "sets" the seam, flattening puckers that occurred when it was sewn."

I do not because steam can distort the pieces. I may use steam for bulky seams or to help "tug" an errand block into submission.

Setting the seams is something I learned in my very first class and most of the time I do it.

Setting the seam helps keep the overlap from happening along the seam line on the right side of the fabric. Did you know that the side you set the seam on will be the one the seam will automatically will fold to with no overlap? If you want the seam to be turned to the dark then set the seam on the dark side. It's commons sense but it didn't click with me for a long time. ;)

I always heard not to use steam? So I never did. Does steam make a difference?

I found this makes a big difference. I have been sewing most of my life and only started doing this last year.

I just kow that it works better to press the seams. Didn't know why.

[QUOTE=wildyard;1797675]so the tailor's clapper is like a wooden press for your seam. OK. I do have a seam stick, so I think I will just try using that for now. Sticks are free, lol. I got mine out of the yard. DH sanded it nice and smoothe for me and it works great. Smiles and Hugs,[/QUOT

I use a wooden clothespin, especially when I am paper peicing. saves from getting up to iron every piece.

You gals/guys rock. I am new to all this and for every pattern I have seen I kept seeing the same thing to press the seams but I didn't know how or why. Now I do, thank you so much for such great insight and advise!!

I thought I was the only one who still knew what a tailor's clapper was and how to use it!