Christine George

I'm with SueSew. If I use a narrow foot the fabric wants to go down in between the feed dogs. I use one of my wider feet and move the needle over for 1/4 inch from the side of the foot. Works great.

spokanequilter

If this does happen and there is a "bump" on the back of the quilt where it goes one way above the bump and the other way below the bump, you can clip the seam allowance perpendicular to the seam and then press the seam on either side of the clip the way it will lay flat. Just be sure you don't clip into the seam itself. I often have to do this, when I've either pressed in the wrong direction or where there are lots of seams to match. It helps to make the whole quilt top lay nice and flat. It also helps, as bigsister said, to use a wider presser foot.

Lavada

I just snip it too no one has ever complained about my quilts and i have gave a lot of them away

ka9sdn

Sounds like a lot of you are like me--try to do it right but if it acts up I just accept it.

katesnanna

Guess I must be a bit anal. Like Tartan I'll clip a few stitches and lay the seam allowance flat. Luckily it doesn't happen too often. If I have one I think will twist I stop just before I reach it, lift the presser foot (needle down) and check it is laying the right way then continue.

bearisgray

When I've had to clip - I clip each side of the seam separately - so that the seam is less weakened in just that one spot - and then I apply Fray Check to the spot - (or similar product) - I feel that doing so will minimize any fraying

Twisted seams really bother me, too. I usually try to fix them when I find them during that "final press" before it gets layered. I just remove the few stitches that are holding it and resew the area -

I have finally learned to use a stiletto (or stiletto type object - a toothpick, tips of small scissors, a nail file, a screwdriver, a needle, a straight pin - whatever) to make sure the seam is still going the way I want it to right before it gets to the needle.

That little 'bump' on the sewing machine does cause the seam to flip -

I also learned from my Mom that the back side should look good, too. Mom - she would frequently look at the back side of a piece of needlework before looking at the front side.

I find that finger-pressing (or finger-nail pressing) usually is adequate for the first seam. I usually do the nesting or butting approach when joining seams. Usually they butt up tightly enough together so i don't need to pin.

If it's a really tricky join - like the halves of a LeMoyne star - I will hand baste the intersection to hold the pieces -

Helen S

I find pressing the seams seems to help, but I keep a finger on the seam to the left of the feed dog and presser foot, keeping the seam flat as it comes up to the needle. It takes an extra second or two, but well worth the effort in the finished look, I think.

Wintersewer

Maybe you need to reduce your presser foot pressure.

margecam52

Even if the seam lies flat when pressed, it makes it hard on the person who quilts the top. What I do when I get a customer who has a top with seams like that...I do myself a favor and check the back, making sure the seams all go in one direction, if they flip, I snip...right next to the end of the block/section where the seam is sewn down...I snip and flip the one end to match the other end. This makes stitch in the ditch to secure blocks much easier. I also do this when doing e2e (panto) designs...it helps settle thick seams. Extra time for me? Loss of pay for time? Yep...but, I don't have to fight the quilt on the frame. I also flatten thick seams (like in pinwheel blocks..where the points join).
Did you know that if you turn a seam in one direction, and the front join is off a tiny bit...you can try flipping the seam in a different direction, and that can make the front join match better? If the amount you are off is just a couple of threads off, it can make that join look perfect. Another reason to keep the seams going in same direction...where they flip on the back..changes the seam placement on the front...if the flip is at the middle of the seam...you will se a "jog" where the flip is, even if it is flat. This becomes really visable if the quilter tries to secure with SID (stitch in the ditch)..he/she has to jog over to stay in the ditch.

bearisgray

Marge -

Thank you for adding that a twisted seam WILL show up as a lump when quilting