pollyjvan9

I press open when there are several seams coming together. To the darkest side usually.

TonnieLoree

Most of the time I press to the dark. There are times that dictate to press open. You'll know them when you get there. It takes longer to press open, but is well worth it if it will reduce bulk.

Lavada

i press to the dark side but i only do hand quilting

alices

I agree it's really a personal choice. I press to one side and "marry" my pieces.

ladycaller

These answers are very interesting..When I started to quilt it was NEVER press seams open. So I always press to one side.

jeanneb52

It depends on the placement...For a Lone Star, I would press open so as not to get the Volcano in the middle. But usually, to the dark or whatever way the fabric asks to be pressed.

Moedeenie

I like my adjoining blocks/rows to nest so press blocks in opposite directions from row to row. When doing blocks with alot of center bulk, I press them open. I think I typically press my borders toward the outside...

pieces

I press my seams to the darkest fabric unless the construction of the blocks demands the seams be pressed differently.
There are exceptions when the seams do need to be pressed open to reduce bulk, like when several seams meet.
When seams are pressed to one side the seam is stronger because the stitches are hidden in a seam. When seams are pressed open the stitches are more exposed and not as strong.
Generally garment seams are pressed open and when someone moves to quilting they want to continue pressing the seams open. The quilting way is to press the seams to the darker fabric.

Rettie V. Grama

I press to the dark side and also press open. It depends on what pattern I am using. Making Crib quilts for sale and using a 4 inch square which turn out to be a disappearing 9 patch, I press to the side in all except the middle seam, the middle seam is pressed open.

I end up with a 10 inch block and set up side by side, makes a beautiful Crib Quilt.

clsurz

We are told to iron them to the dark side when we create blocks for our Guild.