Open seams and stitch in the ditch?
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
Posts: 1,329
IMHO pressing 1/4" seams open is pain. I only do it where I absolutely have to reduce bulk. To answer your question: yes you can SITD over an open seam, but why not take this opportunity to try a serpentine or other decorative stitch with some wiggle in it?
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 12-01-2014 at 04:27 AM. Reason: language
#22
I caved to the 'seams open' pressure once and felt very funky about it the whole time. I decided to never do that again (unless it's where there's a ton of seams coming together or something). I used to be a garment sewer so I was used to pressing open but now I am used to pressing to the side.
#24
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,369
#25
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Posts: 1,012
I do quite a few modern quilts, and the directions often say to press seams open. I've never had my LAQer complain, and the quilts have always turned out beautifully. I've never done SITD on them. The one I quilted myself called for stitching 1/4" from the seams. I loved the results.
#26
Yes, you can press the seams open and stitch in the ditch. Leah Day says use smaller stitch length and go for it. It does work. I have also read that pressing them to the side was done because of hand piecing.
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
I don't understand why people are opening the seams? In some situations it may be necessary but it's weaker and looks bad because the thread shows. You should see them on the long arm...what a mess! Some use white thread throughout the quilt. Yes...then you have fun coloring all your thread so it doesn't show which may also further weaken the thread.<object id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" type="cosymantecnisbfw" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block;" cotype="cs"></object>
Having the seam thread show is typically the result of tension problems , and not setting the seam.
#28
#29
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1,669
You will be stitching on top of the piecing thread and it is certainly possible for the machine needle to cut some of those threads with a most unpleasant result. I know because I have already made that mistake and wound up with a project with a hole that had to be whip stitched together. froggyintexas
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 832
I don't know if this is "correct", but I press the seams to one side, then when I SITD stitch next to the seam on the opposite side, the thread is almost hidden that way. I wouldn't mind being informed about whether my "way" is a good one.
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AngelinaMaria
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12-06-2012 12:02 PM