IraJane

This tutorial does a great job of explaining how to swirl the seams to reduce bulk. It can also be done very sucessfully with pinwheel blocks. I believe I first saw this on Alex Anderson with Billie Lauder.

http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com/2010...tch-block.html

QuiltnNan

Eleanor Burns uses this method as well.

Neesie

Maybe I'm being overly cautious . . . but wouldn't that leave a weak spot, in the center, where the threads were snipped?

IraJane

Only the threads in the seam allowance are loosened. The stitching from the seam crossing at that point keeps everything solid.

IraJane

Glad to hear that. I haven't done any of her patterns for a while.

SUZAG

Great tutorial! Thanks!

burchquilts

This is one of the reasons I press my seams open. I'm too scatter-brained to remember which seam to press which way. But I have seen Eleanor Burns do this & it seems to make sense if you press to one side.

pjnesler

So far I've never done this to a seam, though I've wanted to - after seeing this tut I should be able to do it next time, thanks for the link!

nstitches4u

I learned this method at a quilting weekend with Eleanor Burns.

IraJane

Once you've done it a few times it becomes second nature.