ghostrider

I'm sorry, I disagree. Accuracy is always really important for a quilt top. Even if all you're doing is sewing 10½" squares together, setting the seams makes the block size more accurate, more uniform, and therefore the top is more square, and the whole thing looks better when you're done.

I suggest the OP make two four block 'tops' - one made without setting the seams and one made with set seams throughout. She can then decide if she thinks it's worth doing. It's a personal decision.

quiltmom04

I do it when I think about it and am not in a hurry. I think it does help the seam lay flatter, but you do end up pressing the same seam twice, which can be time consuming, so it's not the end of the world if you don't set the seam.

JustAbitCrazy

I don't think setting the seam before pressing to one side really doesn't do anything, so I don't do it. I think the threads will get buried in well with just the one pressing. It just seems like a waste of time and electricity to me.

Trippgal

Setting a seam or melding is one of those seemingly tedious things sewers do but it does have a purpose. Ages ago when teaching garment sewing it was explained to every seamstress as multi purpose.

1. The stitching you do has height over the two pieces of fabric that are sewn together due to the fact the thread is round and sitting on top of the fabric. By pressing BEFORE you press open or to a side it allows the bulk to be presed flat giving you a cleaner sharper place for the seam to fold. You will not achieve the same clean fold by consolidating the two steps. The smaller the piecing, the tighter the corners the more critical this step is in garments and in quilts.

2. Any micro gathers from the feed dogs can also be pressed smooth giving you an accurate finished surface for further work or piecing.

3. It makes pressing to one side or open easier to accomplish once the excess bulk is smoothed out allowing for a better flat pressing technique.

4. It refreshes the starching giving you a easier to work with product.

5. your seams will be sharper allowing for better accuracy in matching seams for joining pieces. An error up to 1/16 perpetuated in each block in a crib quilt will completely screw with your final work tring to get everything to line up.

as a clothing judge it was always obvious which did and didnt meld their seams. I am guessing it would be the same for quilts.

tropit

Wow! Hot topic! Thanks for everyone's opinions. BTW, I do set my seams...well, most of the time. But, only because I think it will be easier to press to the side the second time and lay just a tiny tad bit flatter...just a tiny tad...maybe a 128th of an inch. I know, all those fractions do add up in the end, but I don't sweat that small of an amount. Sometimes I don't set the seam, because I'm afraid of stretching that seam line during all those pressings, especially when it's on the bias.

IMHO, "embedding the stitches," is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. (Sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone, but that term just doesn't mean anything to me...it's cryptic.) Physically speaking, the stitches don't embed themselves, so the scientist in me just won't buy that one. The thread may lie flatter, it may shrink, or stretch a little from the heat, but embed...nope...I don't think so. Just my opinion.

tropit

LOL...Oh, Phyllis...I like your style! Yes! Let's send this one to the Myth busters!!! Another urban (err...shall I say...suburban legend) to be tested and possibly busted!

jeanharville

Have enjoyed the discussion and agree that the thread does push the fabric up just a tad and setting it makes the thread flat instead of round and thus lies flatter. (Tropit, you're right, it doesn't embed). This is one reason of two or three why I don't like to watch Ludlow quilting. She doesn't set or press (ever) And you really can see the difference if you're accustomed to seeing set seams.

Peckish

I don't know that I have a "scientific" reason that would satisfy. Sometimes I set the seams, sometimes I don't, it just depends on the pattern and each individual seam. I find that bias-cut pieces lay MUCH better if I set the seam before pressing the allowances to one side.

Trippgal

I can understand if an analytic mind rejects the term embeds, there are better words, but the essence remains of what is going on. The threads in fabric have quite a bit of airspace between them, and then when you stitch the sewing thread lays on top of that. The first pressing, or setting, or meld allows you to use direct pressure on the three components to get the flattest most compressed seam area. In essence it is not only compressing the threads and fabric but also embedding the thread down into the fabric where fluff (air) used to be. You do not get as good a result by only pressing the seam open or to the side as you have more layers to be directing the force(pressure) and heat of you and the iron through to get the same effect.

Its like cooking with grandma when you have a degree in chemical physics. Some words just make no sense....

Jannie

I learned to sew in the 60's and no one told me I was to embed the threads first before pressing the seam open. I wonder if my projects would have been much better if I had known. Now that I know it is good to do, I always set my seam before pressing to the side or open.