mckwilter

Dry iron, here, with spray starch at hand if I need it.

ragquilter

Same here, I was wondering why my hand was getting wet from the handle on my iron last night. This morning, I realized it was leaking around the button for a steam blast, so it will now be a dry iron. I have a spare but this one is still heating well. Now, to find a spray bottle.

Candace

I use a lot of starch and steam to press yardage, but at the block stage my iron is dry to avoid stretching and extra shrinkage. When the top is done and needs a final press, I starch and use steam(sometimes) again.

Jeanne S

I get much flatter seams with steam.

quiltstringz

Totally a personal choice. If you like using steam (I love steam and starch) I would do a couple of test blocks measure before and after you steam and see if it is making any difference. I acually starch my fabric before cutting and then use steam throughout the process.

DOTTYMO

People split on which to use. I prefer to steam but rest of my friends dry press.

SueSew

Starch and spray water on the heavy creases before cutting the fabric, dry iron for piecing, starch when I press the quilt top, if it needs more structure. I feel like I want the fabric to have its say in the matter. If I work with it, it generally works with me and I don't get wonky blocks or rows.

ManiacQuilter2

It is really what you are comfortable doing. I use to steam but now I find that with the spray starch, I only use a burst of steam one in a while to get that seam to lay flat !!

Rebecca_S

I use steam when I am setting a seam but a dry iron when pressing seams to the side or open.
I sometimes us steam when pressing on a final block to make it lay flat.

ILoveToQuilt

I guess I am in the minority. Dry iron only...water can rot out the insides of the iron (that's why they leak often) especially if you use tap water or highly mineralized water (learned this from a long time tailor). I don't use starch because starch can attract bugs (moths and carpet beetles) which can damage fabrics on stored quilts. (If you wash the quilt when it is finished, you do remove the starch, but then how do you get the crisp look back without starch?) This is just my opinion...

Anita