Can you press too much?
#1
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I've jut finished putting all the blocks together for my quilt and am ready to start joining them together. I pressed and sprayed with Best Press when I washed my fabric, I then pressed each block again after construction. Now, after all the handling to determin position and so forth I find myself wnting to give them a final press and starch after their final "square up" and joining together in their rows. Can you press and starch too much? And also, is it okay to use a litle bit of steam in the iron....I get a better heat and crisp with steam but have heard you shouldn't use it on your blocks/piecing?
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,946
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I don't think you can. I starch and press the seams then starch the final square up once the top is together. The only way I think you can go wrong is if you iron out of shape. But the starch helps prevent that.
#5
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I am a steamer. It just works better for me than a dry iron. I also starch - but only if I am doing a block with small pieces or thin strips - like Log Cabins. Everyone has their own preference!
#6
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,242
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I had to give up on steam, as it seemed to make my blocks ripple in places (and then there was the leaking and sputtering issue). I do miss the steam on the back of the quilt, though, as it really helped the pressed seams to lie flat. I sometimes get this same type of rippling problem when I use the Best Press on a completed block, so I tend to omit the Best Press when I press after my blocks have been constructed.
#7
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I try to starch and press each seam in order to "preserve" the shape that I have sewn. If one is pressing to try to "manipulate" the fabric to get a block into being square or to be a bit larger, etc, remember that it will always return to the original shape when washed. It is really good to measure and square up as you go. Waiting until a 12" block is completed is usually too late to guarantee that it is squared.
#8
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,581
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I made the mistake of ironing/pressing overly enthusiastically blocks
that were still sopping wet with sizing (the kind I bought in the spray can) - stretched them totally out of shape!
I think there is a proper way to use starch/sizing, but that was not it!
Amazing what I have learned after doing something wrong!
that were still sopping wet with sizing (the kind I bought in the spray can) - stretched them totally out of shape!
I think there is a proper way to use starch/sizing, but that was not it!
Amazing what I have learned after doing something wrong!
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08-19-2014 04:54 AM