Quiltingboard Forums

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)
-   Main (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/)
-   -   Steam or no steam? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/steam-no-steam-t193698.html)

Skittl1321 07-05-2012 05:24 PM

No steam if I starch, steam if I don't.
Also, I tend to iron and have never had anything catostrophic happen.

jaciqltznok 07-05-2012 05:32 PM

spray with water/best press and then press with a dry iron!

scraphq 07-05-2012 05:36 PM

I like light steam, but sometimes the iron is empty and I'm in no mood to stop and fill, I just dry iron. Amazingly, that works for me, too!

Dolphyngyrl 07-05-2012 06:27 PM

I like lots of steam

burchquilts 07-05-2012 10:43 PM


Originally Posted by Dolphyngyrl (Post 5342098)
I like lots of steam

Me, too. It's kinda not fun when I'm pressing my seams open & kinda scald my fingers but like anything else, you get used to it. I also steam when I use sizing.

katydidkg 07-06-2012 03:25 AM

I like steam, but I gently iron my blocks so as not to distort the seams.

jcrow 07-06-2012 03:40 AM

I use best press on my fabric, first thing. Then, if it needs it, I use steam. I press, but I have ironed with and without distorting. I'm learning.

gollytwo 07-06-2012 03:47 AM


Originally Posted by Neesie (Post 5341673)
Sometimes I steam; sometimes I don't. Depends upon the fabric and how it's behaving. I usually use steam, when pressing the fabric, though.

that's me too, except I rarely iron fabric before cutting, even if it's been washed , which it seldom is.

majormom 07-06-2012 07:35 AM

I steam each seam to set it and then to press it to the side. I have often wondered if steaming shrinks the fabric at all. Since I'm not sure, I make sure to do all the seams with steam so that if it does shrink the fabric, all of it will be shrunk. I don't wash the fabric before using it anymore so if there is shrinkage, it's from the steam pressing. I have never really tested it.

ghostrider 07-06-2012 08:32 AM

I do what works for me after years of trying all the options and what works for me is NOT what works for other quilters. You should do what works for you and not bother with anyone else's rules.

Make some identical blocks (include HSTs or other bias edges in them), trimming to make sure they're all the same size. Press some both dry and steam, then iron some both dry and steam. Measure them all again. Note any changes. That'll give you a starting spot for accuracy.

If you're obsessive about it, you can refine that testing procedure for the best (i.e., most accurate) method for pressing seams, too. Make one block using only dry pressing. Make another using only steam ironing. Then the other two ways, then some combinations. It sounds tedious, and it is, but you'll know for sure what works best for you when you're done....and phooey on everyone else. :)


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:50 AM.