Steam or Dry
 

I would like to know your opinion on pressing seams and bindings. Do you steam or dry and why? I have tried both and still in a quandry of what to use. What about those pressing sprays? Would they be better with a dry iron as a working pair? Or would steam in the irom work better?

I steam all the time. I rarely dry iron. I feel I get a crisper press with steam

I'm exactly the opposite. I prefer a dry iron. I rarely use steam unless I'm fusing something and it requires steam.

Cari

I do both. Mostly it depends on if the starch or spray is out of reach then I don't use it. If the iron is out of water I press dry. I do starch my fabric very stiff before cutting.

I use steam and starch to get anything to lay flat! :)

Best Press or starch with a dry iron. I do steam press the backing and use starch before making the quilt sandwich. It helps me with straight seams, making each block come out the same size and no wrinkles.

I have a Clover II mini iron for pressing the seams. It doesn't have a steam function & I find I don't need it. I generally use a LOT of starch, but for seams I mostly just press & go. If it's being especially stubborn, I might mist it with a bit of water to reactivate the starch that's already in my fabric from the first times I pressed it (press before cutting & pressed after cutting, both with heavy starch). But usually that isn't necessary.

This is my method as well. I do let the starch soak into the fabric for a few seconds at least before ironing/pressing. Seems to be more effective that way vs laying on top of the fabric. Plus no flakes.

Thank you for your replies. I think that I will try a few of your ideas to see which work for me. Thank you again.

I'm a dry iron guy... I use steam to shrink or shape fabrics, but that is mostly for garment sewing not quilting.