Question about matching seams...
06-23-2012, 02:41 PM
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stanley NC
Posts: 981
Some time ago, a magazine asked a panel of famous quilters the question of whether to press seams open or not. They were about evenly divided on their preference. So there is no "right" answer. These replies give good reasons for whatever choice you woud want to make. Or try several and see how you like them!
06-23-2012, 04:27 PM
#53
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 27
I was always told that you should press seems to the dark color. I am working on a D9P now and with this way I have not had any problems. When putting the rows together I press one row one way and the next row the other way. I was really supprised at how easy this quilt went together.
06-23-2012, 05:06 PM
#54
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Outside St. Louis
Posts: 38,213
I try to press so seams match up and nest. I they are going in the same direction, I just put a pin in the seam and match them that way, if too bulky I will flip one and go on.I was going to press them open but, doing on a large quilt takens too long and 1/4" seams are hard to get open without burning my fingers.
06-23-2012, 08:00 PM
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Paradise, Texas
Posts: 916
06-24-2012, 09:43 AM
#56
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,640
I have Only pressed seams open for making clothing or doing a wallhanging. I would not want to do this for a full bed quilt due to the stress of use and laundering.
Someone on this board mentioned taking a class from Kaye Wood how suggested not pressing seams. Perhaps that is her reason not so do so, as at time you have to flip seams and if pressed, you could looses 1/8 inch off the seams. So I will try her method to see how this goes.
Someone on this board mentioned taking a class from Kaye Wood how suggested not pressing seams. Perhaps that is her reason not so do so, as at time you have to flip seams and if pressed, you could looses 1/8 inch off the seams. So I will try her method to see how this goes.
06-24-2012, 12:42 PM
#58
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: No. Virginia
Posts: 222
Here are several methods I use that work for me:
1. I sew a few stitches right at the point where they need to meet. If they are oK, then I sew the whole seam, if not I pull them out and try again.
2. I use elmer's school glue to match the seams, press it with a hot iron, then sew the seam
3. I use the fork pins to hold the seams together on either side--you can see them here:
http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/it...l.pl?item=C240
1. I sew a few stitches right at the point where they need to meet. If they are oK, then I sew the whole seam, if not I pull them out and try again.
2. I use elmer's school glue to match the seams, press it with a hot iron, then sew the seam
3. I use the fork pins to hold the seams together on either side--you can see them here:
http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/it...l.pl?item=C240
06-24-2012, 01:59 PM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Pikesville, MD
Posts: 720
Thank you for these tips! I bought the Elmers Glue and the special bottle, but have yet to use it. I think this would be the perfect time to try it. The reason that some of seams don't match on my D9P is because it's an "I Spy" quilt, so the middle block becomes a cornerstone for each block. I plan to quilt with SID, so I'm not sure pressing the seams open would be a good idea. Thanks to all for your responses!
06-25-2012, 05:28 AM
#60
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 221
The reason that seams are pressed to one side and not open is that the thread is protected from wear by the slight overlap of the top patch. Yes, clothing seams are opened, but you don't expect them to last the number of years that a good quilt will last.
Try pinning vertically on both sides of the seams that lay in the same direction, then stitch right up to the pin before removing.
SandyQuilter
Try pinning vertically on both sides of the seams that lay in the same direction, then stitch right up to the pin before removing.
SandyQuilter
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
