Tips on lining up when seams are pressed open?
 

Does any one have any tips on how to line up seams when the seams are pressed open? I pretty much always press to the side so I can nest my seams and things usually stay pretty well lined up. I'm working on a project where it says to press all seams open (due to many HST's to reduce bulk). I'm trying the open seams, but things often don't line up as well. Sometimes it's ok, but other times definitely not. I was going to post a pic, but I need to refresh my memory on how to do that from my phone. 😂
Thank you!

I press open and I pin a lot... every leading edge and about every 1-2 inches, usually a minimum of 2 pins, but typically 3 per piece (start middle and end). I use long quilting pins and the tops are well below the seam line or the feed dogs.

I'm looking from the narrow top down and lining up the seams and seam allowances. Some shapes don't quite work how you might think because of we are thinking in terms of the final size and not the seam allowances... So your HST might seem a little off on the first seam without the other sides.

I keep the pieces together in their strings and to help line up the seams for easier pressing, I'm usually pressing sets of 4-ish at a time (depending on size). First press from the back. You want the more simple pieces to go under your iron, to avoid snagging and other problems. Then flip over, give a quick little pat on the front and let it cool in place while you work on the next set.

I glue baste the seams or use 1/4" washable seam tape. Both as easy as using pins and no pricks.

I put a small line of glue over the seam in the seam allowance, and then line up the seams and press the area with the tip of my iron to dry the glue. I also put a pin at the seam every 6 to 12" if I'm working with rows of blocks. That's not necessary when you're making individual blocks, only when the weight of the fabric might open the glue.

Thank you for such a detailed description @Iceblossom ! I use a lot of pins too. 😊

@Onebyone and @loisf what kind of glue do you use? This sounds like a dumb question, but if you glue the seam together, can you still press it open after sewing? Does it separate ok and not gum up the iron when you press? Or what do you do?

Figured out how to get a pic posted!

I press seams open. I put a pin through the seam and leave it sticking straight up and then put a pin on either side. I leave the pin in the seam in as close as I can get it to the needle.

I poke a pin through one seam, then poke it through the other seam. Hold the pin perpendicular, then put another pin just to the right side of the seam. Then remove the first pin.

A friend uses the two prong pins that look sort of like hairpins from days of old. She says that makes for perfect seam connections. I have never used them, but they are worth a try.

I glue baste with liquid Elmer's' School glue. A tiny drop. I set the glue with an iron. .Any basting glue will work. After sewing the seam is easy to press open, a dab of water will loosen the glue if needed. I glue baste all my quilts for machine quilting and never have a problem with needles. I use a glue roller so the glue is put on very smoothly and thin. My quilt sandwich is like sewing on paper. Nothing shifts.