In another topic, a long-arm quilter was praising a client for sending her a quilt with all the seams pressed open.

In pretty much everything I've read, it's recommended to press seams in one direction-- to the darker fabric. (And I must admit, I don't like seeing seam allowances through the top.)

So what gives? Which is it? What are pros and cons of each? I know that one advantage of pressing to one side is for stitch-in-ditch quilting, which one should NOT combine with seams pressed open.

I look forward to the discussion.

-- Jillaine

A lot depends on the pattern I'm doing. If there are many joining intersections, I press open, otherwise always to the darker side as I am at a point where I have to buy cheaper muslin and I don't like seam allowances showing through.
I imagine it is all what one prefers to do.

I have just pressed to the dark side and I am so not thrilled with the bulk on just one side of the seam. My next quilt I am going to try pressing open. Most say go to the dark side, but I am thinking of being a rebel and opening.

Oooh pressing to the dark side sounds so ominous!! LOL. I personally press to the side for everything, but I know some great quilters that press open. I think the praise for pressing open comes in because it really reduces bulk when you press open, and depending on the pattern, this can be a HUGE benefit when quilting. There are a few patterns I will press open for this reason, but mostly to the side.

Cheers!
Rachel

As a general rule, I press to one side, unless pressing open will really, really reduce the bulk, and is usually specified by the pattern. I do know that you are supposed to take a larger seam allowance on backing seams and press them open. If the quilt is going to be long armed, it will lay better if the backing seams are horizontal or diagonal.

I press the seams to one side...I've never pressed them open.

I would think that with the seams pressed open, it leaves for a greater chance of the seem coming apart since all the pressure is totally on the thread...whereas, if it's pressed to one side, there is less pressure directly on the thread .

It depends on the fabric for me. I prefer the way opened seams lay, but if it's going to show through I'll press to the dark side. I don't think there's any one hard-and-fast rule about it.

I agree with you. Also, with all the quilting we tend to put into our quilts these days, with machine quilting in particular, seams pressed open shouldn't come apart if you are using a smaller stitch length. :)

I don't have the patience to press seams open, ever. I'm always to one side and depending on the project it's either "to the dark" or "to the outside" of the block.

I am the maker of the quilt top you mentioned. I tend to work in small pieces of fabric , typically one of the dimensions does not exceed 1 1/2 inch. So each "block" will have many seams . And not always knowing ahead of time exactly how I will lay out the finshed blocks , it will keep the bulk, particulary at the block joining seams, to a mimium. I tried a press to the dark and it never failed that some where in the quilt I had four layers coming together, creating a very think seam/bump. it is my opinion that over time this thick bump , will have wear from friction , and I noticed that the bumps on other quilters quilts appeared to loose color from the fiction wear at the thicker parts. Every notice the seams on your jeans , were the fabric wears out.
There are those who will say it creates a weaker seam over time but ... after 40 years of quilting and pressing open ... I have never had one seam fail.
It is a a personal preference to create a FLAT block or top... but over the years I have found that its easier for me to quilt and the LA pros seem to like/appreciate it as well. I just like it , others like pressing to the dark , go with what you like . try pressing a block with seams open and see if you like it.