I have been quilting for 30 years and tho I know am more into miniatures I have done larger quilts in the past. I have always ironed my seams open. It is less bulk and I prefer the flatter look. I haven't had any problems with batting coming through.

Twilliebee: I love your avitar pic! 8-)

My idea behind it is that you do that to keep the batting from poking through and the fact that the quilt will stay together longer and has less of a chance for the seams to rip.


Billy

I'm with twilliebee, it 'nests' more nicely. Most of the blocks I've made are done in rows first and when you align the rows to connect them, they just snug up nicely and lay flat once sewn and turned. I could never get them to line up rite until I learned to make my rows and press everything in one direction and then connect the rows leaving the second row turned opposite.....usually I count the stacks of rows I am ironing and the second, fifth, eighth, (etc) rows ironed opposite. Makes sense to me and probably only me. Again, I've never read it in the books.

Blessings, Ruth

Carol Doak says that it puts too much pressure on the weakest part of the quilt----the thread.

I always press seams open. I have tried the other way and didn't like the results.
It can do away with a lot of bulk on certain designs.
A hand stitched seam unless it is backstitched each stitch is just not as strong as a machine stitch.
You can also see a depth perception to a block that has the seams pressed to just one side.

It makes the quilt sturdier to press to one side. As one person said, it puts less stress on the weakest link, the thread.
It's also (for me) quicker to press to one side. And I burn my finger tips less often..
:-o

Every quilting teacher I've had advised pressing seams open.
Blocks lie flatter and hand quilting is easier.

I very rarely do though - am too lazy

Try both and see which one you prefer. I've done both but I think from now
onwards I will be pressing everything open. I was amazed how much flatter
my seams were (with a wet finger) but the seams were flat, flat, flat...like
glued. OK I starch my fabric before cutting so maybe the starch is
reactivated there but I like it. :D

Thanks Sharon for this tip. I was scared to use water but now I keep
a little dish of water next to my ironing board and dip my finger before
pressing each seam. :thumbup: I need to try this with a small sponge
and see how it works.

If you use the SID (Stitch-in-the-ditch) quilting, your quilting would secure only through the thinnest part - your stitches. I would not trust it to not come apart. However, I have pressed some blocks open when a lot of seams converged. I don't think it's an all or nothing approach.