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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kryssa

In my first quilting class I was told to iron seems in the direction of the darker fabric or toward the least bulk. But is there a real reason why I can't iron my seams open?

You can press them open, but there are some you really can't. Such as curves like the drunkard's path or grandma's fan is better to press to one side.

If it's going to be a quilt that will be used & washed alot, pressing to one side makes a stronger seam. Carol Doak is right-the thread is the weakest part;

I press seams open on wall units. There is no stress on those seams. I entered a wall piece in state fair and had a comment about "excellent seam joining" The seams were pressed OPEN.

I press the seams open every time.

I always press my seams open. I also make my stitches smaller. The reason for that is...as you cut your blocks the stitching may want to pull out. I like this method because it always lays flat.

you should always iron them to one side your pattern will tell you how to press then helps when you are sewing them

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twilliebee

Kryssa, there really isn't a reason not to iron your seams open anymore, and although I've read the reason they were customarily ironed to one side, I don't recall what it was. A number of quilters iron their seams open because they prefer the absolutely flat look it provides. Some also believe free motion quilting is easier with flat seams. I believe there is some concern that seams are more likely to get skewed when ironed open, and that intersections of blocks require more special handling. I've done both, but I'm not experienced enough to have much of an opinion either way. When I have a little extra time, I'll try to find the sites where I originally got this information and post the links. Have fun!

Right! No reason not to press open. In the days of hand pieced blocks, seams were pressed to the side to give them more strength, but with the lock stitch of machines today, it is not necessary. I like the way seams pressed in opposite directions "lock' when I sew them, but if you're careful, seams pressed open will be just fine.

I do both- one side when I need seams to nest and open when I need a flat block

It seems it is up to you how you do it. I learned to press them to one side so that's what I do. I am a creature of habit.

There are times when you should iron them open. But, let me tell you, it's a lot of work. Going to one side is much easier and the seams stay straight. When you iron them open, they can easily get curves ironed in. And when you put blocks together, the ironing to the CORRECT direction is of supreme importance.

Cynthia