tezell0801

I need some reminders, starting first quilt tonight. do I press each seam after stitching before going on? Blocks are a 5 inch square surrounded with 2 1/2 inch strips, 2 5" and 2 10".

jodyquilts

I am a big believer in pressing. Why don't you chain stitch the first strip on one side of the 5" square. - do this to all of the 5" squares, then press. Go back and do the next side to all of the squares, go all the way around the squares by chain stitching, press then on to the 2.5" strip, repeat. Pressing is very important to making a squared block. Hope this helps.

PaperPrincess

You can either press with an iron (press, don't iron) or finger press. Each seam needs to be flat with no tucks and the seam pressed in the direction the pattern indicates or towards the darker fabric.

tezell0801

Thanks!!!!!

MaryLane

I chain piece and press after each seam. I also keep my ironing board in another room so that I am forced to get up and move regularly. For someone prone to DVTs like me that is a good thing!

Lori S

I press after each seam, it keeps everything going straight. It's also a good way to check your work to see if anyting needs to be corrected before going further and having it be a bigger problem to correct.

tezell0801

I got out my new Clover pressing tool, and pressed as I sewed. So much fun but so much to learn!

Dolphyngyrl

I chain piece a bunch a blocks and press a bunch at each step, goes quicker that way so you are not constantly getting up and down

Tartan

It depends if your a chain piecer or a block piecer. I tend to try one whole block of a pattern first to see if the size is right and if I like the colour placement. I tend to finger press as I go if needed and then press the whole block when finished.

QuiltE

I too am a firm believer in pressing with an iron after every seam. Makes for a much nicer finished product.