Log Cabin Block--What are Pros/Cons of pressing seams open or to one side??
03-10-2013, 12:59 PM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The California Hills
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Log Cabin Block--What are Pros/Cons of pressing seams open or to one side??
I am planning my first log cabin quilt and would like to hear about other quilter's experiences about pressing seams. I am planning to cut my logs 1.5 inches wide (so finished 1 inch wide). This is probably a medium size log (not as narrow as .5 inches but not as wide as the 2 inches I see on some log cabins) but still gives you a pretty narrow strip to work with.
I am traditionally a press to one side gal as I really rely on this technique to match up seams. However, there won't be any seams to match up so I can really go either way on this.
I am thinking that there will be less distortion if the seams are pressed open. Just wondering if my thought process was correct and if there are any cons to this?? Anything else I should be thinking about? I'm still finishing up my Omigosh quilt and am really looking forward to my next quilt. Ironically, it will be a rainbow log cabin so I still haven't shaken the "rainbow" attraction.
I am traditionally a press to one side gal as I really rely on this technique to match up seams. However, there won't be any seams to match up so I can really go either way on this.
I am thinking that there will be less distortion if the seams are pressed open. Just wondering if my thought process was correct and if there are any cons to this?? Anything else I should be thinking about? I'm still finishing up my Omigosh quilt and am really looking forward to my next quilt. Ironically, it will be a rainbow log cabin so I still haven't shaken the "rainbow" attraction.
03-10-2013, 01:42 PM
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 186
The reason I was given to press the seam to one side was it was stronger.
I have to admit that when I do something with a lot on interlocking seams I do press my seams open if its not laying flat. for the log cabin I would stay with pressing to one side.
I have to admit that when I do something with a lot on interlocking seams I do press my seams open if its not laying flat. for the log cabin I would stay with pressing to one side.
03-10-2013, 01:46 PM
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
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(generally) with log cabin blocks the seams are pressed to one side- away from the center as you go around the *cabin* you use a stitch & flip method of construction- in my mind trying to press them open would be a (nightmare) but you could grab some scraps & make a practice block to try it out & see which way you like best....it would be much more time consuming to do it though-
many people do not *press* as each strip is added- they sew on the strip- open it- finger press, add next strip, open, finger press (so everything just keeps going in the same direction) then press the finished block---if it needs it
many people do not *press* as each strip is added- they sew on the strip- open it- finger press, add next strip, open, finger press (so everything just keeps going in the same direction) then press the finished block---if it needs it
03-10-2013, 02:42 PM
#5
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
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Same here. I don't see any reason to go to the extra work of pressing them open. Also, if you want to stitch in any of the ditches, you need to press to the side.
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