Share your best pressing tip
 

Recently I’ve been putting a large heavy book on top of pressed seams/blocks, leaving in place until the fabric has cooled. My ironing surface is very firm and this results in a super flat block in turn leading to improved piecing accuracy.

I just press and stack them, no weights or anything.

Best tip= Best Press!

There is a product called “flatter” ( I am not associated with this company) that several of my quilty friends like. I have a wooden clapper for stubborn seams. Since I started pressing my seams open I have almost no issues. Of course I have t made a quilt with stars and that many intersecting seams.

I just press and stack too; however, when pressing, I run my fingernail down the seam as I'm pressing to make sure there are no folds. Helps with the "scant" issue.

When I teach a class and someone complains that their block "is not coming out right", more often than not I find that they are not pressing the seams fully open -- they are leaving a small fold where it shouldn't be. I usually suggest the following as this helps to open the seam flat, too.

Jan in VA

My best pressing tip? Don't press your binding in half. :thumbup:

Loving my new wool pressing mat! About 1/2” thick...it keeps the block in place, absorbs the heat from the iron and no distortion! They are the newest product in shops. ❤️ Mine.

sandy

Jan's advice is very important because we do have a tendency to use the side of the iron and treat our pieced work like a laundry item. Treat it gently and keep the elements square. It is important to press with the straight grain. If pressing seams open, it is important to finger press them first so that you don't press in pleats and distortions. When you have the intersection of several seams (like 8-pointed stars) a clapper or wooden mallet is helpful to flatten that intersection.

I use a wooden clapper. I thought my seams looked better and flatter and then my thoughts were validated when my longarmer said, "such nice flat seams".