Billy

New to quilting. What does it mean " setting the seam" What are the steps in setting seams? Is that pressing a seam open?

jaciqltznok

I remember when Mark Lipinski "poo-pooed" the idea of setting your seams..but it really does work...especially if using HST's or anything on the bias....

majormom

'Setting the seam' is done by pressing the stitching line before you open the seam allowance. Not only does this procedure flatten any puckers created by the machine stitching but it seems to make the seam 'behave' better! Then you can press the seam open or to the side, as you wish.
Setting the seam is done when making garments also, which is something I learned way back before I was a teen while I was learning to sew. Since I've been doing it all my life practically, I never forget to do it while quilting also, it has just become a routine for me. Hope this helps.

gump51

I do it every time...every seam. To be honest, I have no idea why except that's how I was taught and I thought everybody did it that way. Oh the small world I live in!!!

Billy

Thanks so much. I'm learning little by little.

penski

i watched that on a show and started to set my seams , i noticed a differance the seams tend to lay flat when this is done

jjgallamore

It is interesting that this question came up this week as I am working on a nine-patch and watched the Missouri Star Quilting video in which they show setting the seam. I'm wondering though--when she turns her fabric over to press to the dark it looks to me like she is actually ironing the fabric. I was taught to press and lift because ironing could distort the fabric. What am I missing?

jjgallamore

It is interesting that this question came up this week as I am working on a nine-patch and watched the Missouri Star Quilting video in which they show setting the seam. I'm wondering though--when she turns her fabric over to press to the dark it looks to me like she is actually ironing the fabric. I was taught to press and lift because ironing could distort the fabric. What am I missing?

Xstitshmom

So I tried this today and I feel like when I pressed the seam to the side, it didn't flatten out as much as if I had just pressed it to begin with. Am I doing something wrong?

Jennifer22206

I do. It's not even a matter of time, goes just as quick.