Setting seams with an iron

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10-29-2010, 03:56 PM

#41

bjnicholson

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Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Cleveland OH

Posts: 3,220

Quote:

Originally Posted by greaterexp

Quote:

Originally Posted by smtdrt01

Hello everyone! My name is Sheila and I live in Alabama. My grandmother taught me to quilt 30+ years ago. She was a little "rustic" and made her patterns out of brown paper grocery bags. Things have changed alot and I have learned so many tips since those days. Initially I never ironed a seam and wow!....is there a big advantage to doing so but I need clarification please. Do you press the seam to one side THEN open it up & press to lay flat? I always just pressed to one side but would like to know which way is better. Thanks!

Yes, please clarify. I, too, am not sure I understand how the seam lies when you first press it. I've just always pressed to one side. Are you pressing it open first, then to one side? Sorry that I'm thick-headed!

You place the seam on your board unopened and press (not iron) it flat as it come off the machine. Then you press it to one side which is usually the dark side. You don't open the seam at all. Clear as mud?

10-29-2010, 11:50 PM

#42

GailG

Super Member

Join Date: May 2008

Location: Louisiana

Posts: 6,764

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjomomma

Can someone please explain how you set the seams?

On a block that the seam will be pressed to the dark, place the stitched block with the dark on top. Apply the iron over the seam and hold for a couple of seconds. The seam is set. Then lift the dark piece and slide the iron without stretching the fabric to press the seam (It will be the right side of the seam.) flat. You can do this with the light piece on top and the seam will be pressed to the light.

10-30-2010, 01:45 PM

#43

Picklelady

Junior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Posts: 248

I looked at the link for the steady betty,but I'm not sure exactly wht or how the steady betty works?? Is it a hard surface like a pressing sheet?? Sorry for being dense, but don't get it.

thanks

10-31-2010, 04:09 AM

#44

GailG

Super Member

Join Date: May 2008

Location: Louisiana

Posts: 6,764

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picklelady

I looked at the link for the steady betty,but I'm not sure exactly wht or how the steady betty works?? Is it a hard surface like a pressing sheet?? Sorry for being dense, but don't get it.

thanks

Dont apologize--I don't understand it either, but I was embarrassed to ask.

10-31-2010, 09:43 PM

#45

jojo47

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: SW Minnesota

Posts: 1,590

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanieW

I've been quilting for quite a few years. Until recently I was unaware of the practice of setting the seam with your iron before you press the seam to one side.

I don't know why we are supposed to do it, but I am convinced that I am having more luck with accuracy since I started setting my seams.

Anyone know the rationale to setting the seam?

When I took my first quilting class a nuber of years ago, that's how we were taught...to set the seams before pressing to the side, so that's all I've ever done.

11-02-2010, 06:45 PM

#46

bjesso

Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Posts: 53

I always set the seams.

11-15-2010, 09:43 AM

#47

omak

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Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: Central Washington State

Posts: 5,997

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanieW

I am thinking that most of us are working with fabric that is not pre-washed .... and, even if it is, the principle is the same.
When you stitch through fabric, you are usually leaving a sizeable hole, even though you are using a smaller sized needle. The result of pulling thread through the hole to create the stitch also puts tension on the sides of that hole.
So, you take the iron, put hot steam to it, and in effect, it makes the fabric pull together tighter, and possibly makes the stitches pull closer through the layers.
Finger pressing will also accomplish good results. <wave>

11-19-2010, 08:51 PM

#48

bjesso

Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Posts: 53

I always pre wash fabric.I`ve heard that pressing closed seam (Setting)smooths out any gathering that may have occured during stitching.

11-19-2010, 09:06 PM

#49

tjradj

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: London, Ontario, Canada

Posts: 1,326

I always set the seam first. Not sure where I learned about it, but it does make a difference.

02-17-2012, 10:53 AM

#50

lhatfield

Member

Join Date: Feb 2012

Posts: 1

I just found this explanation online , "Before you press a seam allowance to one side, put your iron down on it flat, just as it was sewn. Don't move the iron back and forth--let its weight do the work for you. This step "sets" the seam, flattening puckers that occurred when it was sewn."