Pressing seam allowances to one side not necessary.

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01-07-2012, 02:00 PM

#51

sewnbug

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Mid MIchigan

Posts: 575

I prefer to press to one side. Makes it easier to match seams.

01-07-2012, 02:49 PM

#52

quilttiludrop

Super Member

Join Date: May 2009

Location: Lebanon, Oregon

Posts: 1,409

I think the general rule is to press seams to the side when piecing a top, however there are certainly exceptions to every rule.

01-07-2012, 03:46 PM

#53

Daylesewblessed

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: West Texas

Posts: 2,073

Concerning seam allowances -- for Linus quilts with simple patterns made with squares, such as 4 patches, I always use a 1/2" seam. I know it is not conventional, but I think a wider seam allowance is a good thing is children's quilts. It makes no difference for the patterns I use (making the blocks fit ok), and it sure does give a little more "wiggle room" if you are working with squares cut by amateurs.

Dayle

01-07-2012, 04:09 PM

#54

Grandma Mary

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Michigan

Posts: 757

Quote:

Originally Posted by GemState

Interesting! However...most of the time it is easier to press them to one side than to press them open AND it makes it easier to lock seams together.

I agree with GemState! It was hard for me to get used to pressing to one side, but now I love it, and pressing open those small 1/4" seams can burn those fingers!

01-07-2012, 06:17 PM

#55

G'ma Kay

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Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: west central Illinois

Posts: 1,048

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanabee Quiltin

I have been reading some of my newer quilt books and occasionally one of the authors says that they are now ironing seams open. I recently tried it on a quilt that I was making and the only thing I can say is that it took me a long time to iron those little 1/4 seams open. Yes, it laid really flat after I was done, but I was not crazy about how long it took me to iron.

I had more bulk at the intersections when I tried to press them open. It just layed better with them pressed to one side.

01-07-2012, 07:28 PM

#56

margecam52

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Littlefield, TX, USA

Posts: 1,077

Then you get 1/4 way through the machine quilting and hit a pressed open seam...breaking the thread in the seam...yep...have to stop and try to repair the broken seam...I'll keep pressing to the side...it makes a stronger seam, no matter if hand quilting or machine quilting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBoo

I read this in APQ magazine: “Pressingseam allowances to one side was important years ago when quilts wereonly pieced and quilted by hand,” “There was more stress onthe pieced seams, and quilting through the ironed-over layersstabilized the quilt. Today, a machine-pieced and machine-quiltedquilt is so sturdy there is little stress on the seams and no need topress the seam allowances to one side.”

01-07-2012, 09:49 PM

#57

oldbalt99

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Maryland

Posts: 264

To each his own. I press to any side because it dose stablize the cotton material that isn't a thick as it use to be, and it keeps a pieced quilt from having lumps where seams meet.

01-07-2012, 11:34 PM

#58

CMARAS1234

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Posts: 359

I think it is wise to press the seam to the dark side, other wise you have a dark shadow showing on the front, especially on very light quilts, which i do a lot of. cmaras

01-08-2012, 01:39 AM

#59

Lilrain

Super Member

Join Date: May 2010

Location: Washington state

Posts: 4,303

I will still press mine to one side as the pressing of all seams open is too labor intensive for me

01-08-2012, 10:26 AM

#60

probles

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Carmichael CA

Posts: 507

My sewing background has been more clothing than quilting. So when I started, I pressed them open. Then I heard a teach say you MUST go to the side. So I do that now. But many of my friends still press them open and feel it is a better way to get a good, clean seam. I seem to agree. I am so glad that APQ agrees that it is not necessary now.