Pressing seams open or to the side? And why?
10-31-2012, 02:56 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Canadian in Minnesota
Posts: 3,078
If you press your seams open, all that's holding the pieces together is the strength of your thread. If you press to one side, there's not as much pressure on the seam. Think about garment sewing and the strength of an enclosed French seam.
10-31-2012, 03:14 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
I press open, as I tend to make alot of blocks with alot of seams.. if I pressed to one side i always end up with a seam "pile up" at some juncture.
As for strenght ..all that ever holds a seam together is the thread... it does not make a difference if its covered or not. A french seam has two seams or stitch lines .. that what gives a french seam its strenght.
As for strenght ..all that ever holds a seam together is the thread... it does not make a difference if its covered or not. A french seam has two seams or stitch lines .. that what gives a french seam its strenght.
10-31-2012, 03:23 PM
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Front row
Posts: 14,646
I usually press open if the block has lots of seams. I press borders and row seams to one side. If you press the seams open tiny bits of batting can poke through so that is the main reason I press to one side.
10-31-2012, 03:31 PM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 1,070
Hmm in all the garment sewing i did I never had my seams (which were pressed) open come apart. Think about it. It is the line of sewing ehich keeps a seam together.
Do what you like in quilting but din't be afraid to press your seams open because it might fall apart.
I like to pressopen. Seams lie flatter and I don't have to worry about which side I ' m supposed to press to. also avoids the humps ehen side prssed seam gets twisted!
Do what you like in quilting but din't be afraid to press your seams open because it might fall apart.
I like to pressopen. Seams lie flatter and I don't have to worry about which side I ' m supposed to press to. also avoids the humps ehen side prssed seam gets twisted!
10-31-2012, 03:37 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Commerce, Ga
Posts: 875
I almost always press my seams open. I get better matching of seams and flatter seams in my blocks. I have tried pressing to the side, but it doesn't work as well for me. But remember, no quilt police... Do it the way that suits you the best.
10-31-2012, 03:38 PM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
I've done both and employ whichever method works best with the project. I might choose to open seams open if there is a large amount of bulk (ie a lone star where many seams meet in the center), or when using very light and very dark fabrics (if you want seams to nest sometimes you have to iron to the light side and if the light side is very light you get shadows), or the piece is very small (bargello for example often has 1/4" finished strips).
Other times I do it just because
Other times I do it just because
10-31-2012, 04:03 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Killeen, Texas
Posts: 329
As a rule, I've always pressed to the side because that's how I've been taught. But, now I'm considering pressing them open to avoid what Lori S described as a "pile up". Have had that happen more often than I'd like. It is true that it is the stitching that holds pieces together, so to compensate and make myself feel better about pressing them open I'm considering shortening my stitch length to add more stitches per inch, ultimately adding strength to the seam.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
AngelinaMaria
Main
6
03-11-2013 04:57 AM
