Should I be overly concerned?
 

I've just completed piecing the alternating blocks for "My Blue Heaven", a Bonnie Hunter pattern. Last evening I wanted to begin building rows and realized I pulled a BONEHEAD move and pressed both blocks the same direction. Now I need to decide if I want to go back and repress seams on 1/2 of the 132 blocks so that the seams nest and lie nice and flat or run with it. This would be a long arm quilter's nightmare having to quilt thru all those bulky seams I suppose. Oh dear.......what to do? DARN IT!!!!! :(

I would do it because it will make quilting it so much easier. Just do a dozen at a time then do something else and come back. Do that three times a day and you will be done in TWO DAYS and won't realize it. hang in there. We do learn from our mistakes !!

Yes you do.

sorry this happened. i have done it too.
just do a few at a time as you are sewing. you will be much happier with the end result. oh, also, the sewing will be easier.

I have never had any trouble whatsoever longarming through extra levels of fabric on my Innova. However, I would definitely re-press the seams because it will be easier to sew the blocks together and get good matching that way.

Tartan....I wish it was that easy! However, its not in the rows.....its in the blocks themselves! One type of block is supposed to be pressed one way and the opposing block the other. I pressed them all the same unfortunately.

Ask your long arm quilter how she feels. I would repress it it it shows after quilting. I know I'ld be sorry if the result isn't as good as it is with nesting seems.

pdcakm......you quoted Roger Babson at the bottom of your post. Is he a relative or friend of yours? I work for a man by the name of Henry Babson! I wonder if they are relatives! It's not a very common name!

I guess I would bite the bullet and repress the blocks in order to make it easier to join the blocks.

Oh the lessons we learn the hard way! I'll be sitting at my machine this evening correcting my boo-boo's! Thanks ladies for all your advice.....you're the BEST!

I would re press also.

I did this same thing on the very 1st quilt I ever made by machine...actually 1st quilt I had made since learning basic hand applique as a young girl from my grandma in the early 1970's. The quilt is Schoolhouse series "Skill a Month", where each month you learn a new quilting technique. Boy was I "in for it"...LOL.
In addition to pressing the seams in the right directions to have them lay flat/interlock, I also didn't know that the "regular" foot that comes with a machine was not the same thing as the quilting foot..so my blocks were all coming out a tad too small. Finally I measured the foot I was using, and then researched more to find the size of a quilting foot..it also being called a quarter inch foot should've been a clue. :eek:... Between that and my not pressing the blocks that taught half-square triangles and flying geese units the correct way to interlock the seams, made this a FUN quilt to make...Since I was basically self teaching at that time, I look at that as part of the problem...and me being a bonehead as the rest of the problem! Below is a pic of the quilt top after I finally got everything figured out...and on the hst blocks, I tried taking them all apart and doing the seams correctly. I ended up just remaking them.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]446710[/ATTACH]

I'm not a perfectionist so it wouldn't bother me. I haven't had trouble quilting over bulky seams and I'd just avoid the intersections.

Then again, I often lose points of triangles and my seams don't always match. If you're a perfectionist, I wouldn't take advice from me.

Kiffie, I love your quilt! What is the name of the pattern and do you remember where you got it! Beautiful Job!!!

Carol,
Thank you for the kind compliments. I really need to get cracking and quilt it so it will be finished! It's a 10 month bom series called Schoolhouse Series "Skill a month" by Sandi Ray. I have had others ask about it, last I checked the patterns are out of print. I did a quick Google search and from what I find they are still unavailable. I think my lqs where I bought the whole series still had extras last time I was by there, though not sure if she has the set of all 10 patterns. I will check with her and pm you.
Regards,
K

You could also take a hammer (clean, of course) and "whack 'em". I taught a purse class and some of the seams were very thick. I has the gals whack 'em and they flattened out nicely.

It's a pain but will be worth it not to have the lumps.

Very pretty quilt. Well done. I'd like the pattern name too.

Whacking a seam can breakdown the threads of the seam and the fabric around it.....just a thought

The quilt is definitely a great "quilt sampler". Introduces a little bit of everything...great way to start.

Deb, I made the same mistake too. And I was in a hurry so I thought I's sew it up anyway. Was I ever sorry. It is definitely worth enduring the task of re-ironing in order to make your blocks nest together better.
Kiffie your quilt is beautiful and one would never know the trials you had with it.

I consider it a lesson learned. I began the process last evening and hope to have the process finished by the time the weekend is over. I'm looking forward to enjoying a completed top in the near future!

I love this advice.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! :)

I have let a few here and there go and after quilting, washing and drying no one would ever guess. Glad to hear you are 'fixing' it. You will probably be happier with it.
I do my own quilting.

I actually might have used that hammer method instead of re-making/fixing blocks had I known of it! Just not sure it would've been seams I pounded on or...:p
Kif

Hey ... bring half of them over to my house! I LOVE ironing!! I'm just on the other side of 55 :)

If I lived close to ya DogHouseMom, I would be knowing who to call about ironing!! Lol
K

Gotta repress!

What a generous offer!!! I'm almost done......hasn't been as awful as I anticipated but thanks!!!

Why not place in position and iron just before sewing a row at a time. This way mixing the job

I think your only other option would be to press all seams open, but it still means pressing it again. To me, it would depend on which way was easier - pressed open or nested.

Having first been a seamstress, I just pressed the seams open. Worked for me.
Joyce Raab

Just do it. It sounds like a lot of work but I think you will be happier with the end result. Sorry, but if you don't, you may be sorry, and all that work.....for nothing. Good luck.

Hey, Coaltownquilter. I think you knew the answer to this before you asked? Right? But you did get a lot of support and sympathy.:) Happy re-pressing.