Check your strips
 

After pressing a strip set - and I think it looks nice and straight - I line it up against a long ruler to make sure that it actually is nice and straight.

If it is, I congratulate myself - if it is not - then I line it up straight against the ruler and press it so that it is aligned properly.

Sometimes my "eye" is not as good as I think it is.

Yes, that is the method I use for strips. Don't use the curve tip of the iron either as it can distort the strip.

Do you press the closed seam first to set the seam?

This is much on my mind as I'm beginning to cut fabric for s pattern that will have a LOT of strips! Thanks for the timely reminder!

I have drawn lines on my ironing board cover. Some even come with a grid marking on them. Then it's easier to line up strips so that they are straight.

I discovered with my vision being so off I can make this mistake very easily. Even when I think I have them straight I discover after the fact that things can be very off even after measuring 3x's!! All we can ever do is our best.

Pressing the strips on the diagonal helps too. This is how I do mine. Learned this from a Lynette Jensen book years ago.

I'm starting a quilt with a jelly roll. I don't want to wash the JR, so I will be steaming each strip. Thank you for the reminder to keep them straight. It bothers me to use unwashed fabric, but it's a Maywood solid which tends to fray so I can't take the chance.

Good tips! I always have trouble with this. It would be great to find an ironing board cover with straight lines on it - hmmm I might try to make one :)
I do have a metal yardstick that might be good to use - will have to find it :)
Thanks!

I recently made a 2'x4' ironing board. It's perfect for ironing fabric! I drew a 1" grid, with diagonals, on it with a permanent marker. Great for ironing not only strips but when pressing any seam on the bias, just line the seam on a line!

Checking back in to say that this is the method that I use...when I can find the 48 inch ruler.

How can you lose something 48 inches long?