I press seams open when I want less bulk and it works great.

I am so new to quilting, my husband just bought me a quilt kit in Gatlinburg, Tennesse, I started out pressing my seems to the darker fabric, but after about five squares that I fumed over I decided to press open-that worked no more taking out mismatched seams.

I've been asking myself this question many times. Most books and magazines tell you to iron to one side while some of the European ones tell you to open seams. So I guess it's personal preference. I do both now.

If you got alot of seams coming together you need to open the seam. There is just too much bulk to make it lay flat. I have always made open seams doing garments. However like on a 9 patch its easier to put it together with row 1 and row 3 going one way and the middle one going the other way. They are just easier to put together. Some times we have alot of seams to make that are close together and that would be a headache to work if you opened the seams. They tell you to press to dark side as if you could see thru a lighter fabric you see the shadow of your seam. By pressing to the dark side there is no danger of being able to see that seam on the lighter fabric.

It looks like you've received opposing pros and cons for every situation. I've found that quilting (I always hand-quilt) is always easier when seams are all pressed one direction; then I quilt on the opposite side of the seam: one less layer of fabric you have to sew through.

In order to do this, I recently made a disappointing mistake. I almost always press fabrics to dark side, but so I wouldn't have so much bulk to quilt through, I pressed some long seams to the light side. Would have been o.k., but it was medium blue against an off-white block, and my blue seams were just slightly wider than the off-white. Result: I have a dainty blue edge on that light seam that shows through! Live and learn! :x

I have always been told by my teacher that if you hand-piece and quilt
you must NOT iron seems open because they would not be strong enough or dence enough. the only time you would ever do it is when you have 8 pointed stars.
Mad Gertie from England

I haven't read all of the responses, but IMHO, quarter inch seams are difficult to press open and don't like flat as well as a wider seam. Also I think a seam pressed in one direction is more durable. There isn't that fabric pulling against fabric putting stress on the thread of the seam.

Most of mine go to one side always thought if later the thread let loose, was an easier mend, and the bulk does come into play w/the stars, Really dislike burning my fingers ( You hear art can be painful, but I want Quilting to be fun! )

Persosnal preferance, from the sounds of above anwsers, and whatever works best for you is correct.
Happy Quilting :)

Yesterday, Carol Doak told us that we don't press open because it exposes the thread to light and dirt which causes it to degrade.

You can press the seams open absolutely. The time it comes in handy to press to one side is when you are matching up points. Then it a makes that nice "tuck" lining them up to sew.

I just took a Carol Doak workshop and she said the reason you should not iron your seams open is because it allows light and dust to hit the threads which will deteriorate in time.

Just recently I was reading on this QB that seams can be pressed open. Due to the new machines,the stitchs r smaller than the older machines etc. This article was just within the last 2-3 Quilting messages. I tried it for the first time and will be doing this from now on. It pressed out nice and flat and easy to put together. I get a lot of information on the Message Board, just need to take the time to read it more often. lol, I hurry up and go look at all the beautiful work done on here.

I was told by someone, that you iron to one side, and it strenghthins the seam. God bless.