athenagwis

I always press whichever way my blocks lands on my ironing board with my iron sliding to the right ....... LOL I really do, but my only exception to this is pressing a dark dark towards a light light. I will not so that. But other than that I press it to the right whichever way it lands. I am pretty good at lining up seams with both ironed the same way or opposite way, so it doesn't matter to me. Plus I rarely follow a pattern, I kind of just make things up as I go, so the direction of pressing makes no difference to me.

Rachel

Pinkiris

A lot of the patterns that I choose (especially Eleanor Burns) tell you which way to press seams. It sure makes it easier to "nest" the next row and match up the lines if the seams go in opposite directions.

If I'm just fooling around with a block I'm making up, I do what Amma said--make a couple and then see which way will work best.

Sue

patricej

i highly recommend you press carefully.

that's about as close to a rule as i can get without breaking out in a rash.

:wink:

craftybear

wow, lots of nice comments, I love reading messages and always learn something new every day!

JanetM

Generally you want to press towards the darker fabric if possible so that the darker fabric won't shadow through the light fabric.
Pressing to the outside, inside, it really depends how your blocks will go together. For example, if you are doing a 9 patch square, you would want to press the top row let's say to the outside. The middle row to the inside. The bottom row to the outside.
This way, as you sew the rows together, your seams will nest together nicely and not be bulky. Make sense?

earthwalker

I do as Ditter and Madquilter do. Just depends...Oh and press is the operative word...not iron...This is my mantra when pressing seams.