I could NOT figure out why I was getting such crummy results as far as my block size!!! Thought it was mt seam, bought a 1/4" foot with a guidr, thought it was my cutting, bought a slotted ruler, thought it was my pressing, bought a new ironing board. But what seems to have fixed it ( thus far, knock on wood) is the $.99 can of starch!!!! I am simply amazed at what a difference that makes!!!

yep that starch will save alot of headaches. Pressing not ironing will distort fabric too.

I didn't know until recentlty that there is a difference between pressing and ironing. I thought they were the same thing and a lady came to visit us at my sewing group and saw that I was "ironing" and she told me thats not what I was supposed to do that I should be "pressing" and she showed me the difference..and IT DOES MAKE a difference. Sometimes I still find my self ironing, but not very often anymore.

think I will try this. i always just spray a little water.

and the difference would be.....:?

What's the difference?

In ironing, you put the iron down on the fabric and slide it back and forth.

In pressing, you lower the iron onto the fabric and hold it in position without moving it.

Ironing is faster but risks distorting the grain, particularly with smaller pieces. Pressing is slower but will not distort the grain unless you put the fabric down in a distorted position.

I didnt know either!! Thanks

love this site for that very reason.

I didn't know this. Thanks for the lesson!