I read somewhere that some people press the seams open and say that it is more accurate than nested seams. I tried it on this quilt and I don't like it. It's horrible to press, takes longer to piece the rows together, and the seams are not sharp. It's not as accurate either, IMO.

These are the first 6 blocks done for my latest design. There are 36 of these around the outside, the other 30 blocks have two rows sewn together and ready for the third. It's probably going to take another couple of evenings to do these because of the open seams. I would definately be done with them by now if I hadn't tried it.

I agree with you Pam.. I don't like it as well as "the old fashioned way" either.

The beginning of your new project is turning out so lovely!! I really like it & the fabric's you have chosen to use. As for pressing the seams open, I agree it is a pain, but for certain patterns it is necessary to do. I use both method's & prefere ironing to one side. Please keep sharing as you make further progress. You are doing GREAT work!!
:D :D :D :D

What a great pattern. This is going to be beautiful!

I press open on things like pinwheels or one block wonders, where you have several seams meeting at a point. I agree, it's a lot more fiddly than pressing to the side, but in some cases it does lay flatter that way. I wouldn't do it everywhere though - I think it's 'horses for courses'! LOL

I'm sewing a quilt now where the instructions call for pressing to one side, but it would lay flatter and be easier to match points if I had pressed open.

Would this method of making the seams lie flatter help with your current pattern? If not, it may in future quilts. It really does work! It's easier to figure out if you have a sample in front of you while going thru the tutorial.

http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com...lat-seams.html

Looks easy enough and as far as I am concerned Green Fairy can do no wrong!!!! Her quilting is so fantastic!

I've tried it also, and quit quickly! I'm working with the kaleidescope pattern again and tried to follow how I'm "supposed" to do it, which I read after putting "Kayak on the Lake" together--and nothing worked well. I went back to how I figured it out the first time. For this pattern I press only the last seam open--works perfectly.

PP--your fabrics looks so countryish!!

Huh, that's weird. I find pressing seams open is the sure-fire way for me to line up seams perfectly. When I nest them they don't finish up nearly as nice for me.

Thanks Katier, I should have started out using this method. I just didn't tink of it off hand.

For some things it's probably better but for normal piecing, I wouldn't want to use it.

When I made a giant dahlia where 16 pieces meet in the center I used the method of leaving the last 1/4" unsewn and pressing all the seams in one direction. It just swirls around the center and there is no bulk at all.

I have mixed emotions on which way to press the seams. I find that it works better to press the diagonal seams open and the horizontals and verticals to one side.

I do both, depending on the block. If I need to decrease bulk I might press them open. But otherwise you are right it is a pain and takes longer.

i did tayloring for many years so pressing open the seams is natural to me, and i hand quilt so the thickness of double side would even harder to push through. but your quilt is very pretty, i love the colors and i think you will be pleased when you finish.

I do it both ways

Your quilt is going to be beautiful. I don't like to press seams open. Just doesn't work for me.

I'm going to try pressing seams open more, I did it on my quilt Baby Hopscotch and it looked better and intersections were easier to match.

Your quilt will turn out very pretty.

It actually did make my piecing more accurate. It also adds a lot of time. I don't think I would do it normally, maybe on special projects.

First off I must say I am loving your project! I love the fabric you have selected for this quilt. It's going to be so crisp and beautiful.

I have to absolutely agree with your assessment of open seams. I am just finishing up a quilt that had seams pressed open. Many near cases of burnt fingers ensued. I did get quite adept at pressing seams open but did not enjoy it. (I started finger pressing the seams first and then pressed with the iron. BIG help!) I also found there was a lot more pinning needed at the intersections. I was lucky that the pattern I was using didn't have very much matching going on.

Continue on and watch out for your fingers with that iron! I am anxious to see a whole big section of your quilt top now.

It looks beautiful so far. I've never pressed my seams open before. Don't want to try it either. I like the old way. Glad I read your opinions on it too! :-D :-D