Rebecca_S

I am currently working on making a scrappy buggy wheel quilt. These blocks are made from 2" finished squares and HST. I am laying them out in an 8X8 grids, sewing rows, pressing, then sewing rows into blocks. This is the first time I have made large blocks from small pieces.

When I press the rows before sewing into blocks, it is easy to get a row that is exactly 16.5" wide. Therefore I think that my cutting/sewing is pretty accurate.

However, when I sew rows into the block and press I am getting blocks that are consistent not flat and are 16.25" long - I don't think I am pressing them flat enough. A gentle tug will pull them out to 16.5". The blocks have a lot of seams that I don't want to distort.

I try to set the seams then gently finger press into place before pressing with the iron from the back side. Do you have any suggestions for better pressing with lots of seams to get flat blocks and how I can press 1/4 inch into the blocks I already have? Thanks!

GailG

I was watching a couple of tutorials this morning and she was using spray starch to crisp up her fabric before she cut. Then as she pressed, she just gave a little spritz of water and it reactivated the starch. She also suggested using a little paint brush (or I say a Q-tip) to dampen just the seam. She achieved really crisp flat seams. I'm having a Sr. moment but I think her name is Sharon S.

MacThayer

As a former seamstress, I like to press my seams open when I can, and I use a shorter stitch when I do it, so the seams don't pull open. I use a small iron to accomplish this, and to rearrange the seam meetings so they can lie flat as well. I do achieve better size consistency when I do this.

For the ones already done, I'd use an applique iron, to get into all those tight spots, and spray starch to make them crisp. For previously starched fabric, a light spritz of water will do nicely, and then use the iron.

sewmary

I too vote for pressing them open. Us former clothes makers are used to it and trust me none of my garments ever fell apart from a weak seam!

Prism99

A strip stick would probably help: http://thestripstick.com/ .

You may also want to "block" the finished blocks. In other words, draw the finished size on your ironing surface (you can draw it on freezer paper with a Sharpie permanent marker and then iron the freezer paper to the ironing board). When your block is ready, spray starch the block and pin to fit the drawn measurements, then iron the block dry. Sharon Schamber has some videos on Youtube where she demonstrates how to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-3RIWhBvcA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQkF02vpVuw

nativetexan

I too would try to press your last seams open.

Rebecca_S

My ironing board isn't 16" wide so I can't block the whole block on it.
I'll try pressing the last seams open, see if that helps. I like to press the rows to the sides so they seams nest, but you are right it doesn't matter for the row seams.
The stripstick looks interesting, I might try that if the other tips don't work but I was hoping to not buy any gadgets.
Thanks all and keep the tips coming!

Rebecca_S

Success! Pressing the last seams open did the trick.

JudyTheSewer

Oh good, glad to hear that you had success. I like to work with small pieces so I'm sure I will benefit from your question and all of the advice you received. Thanks.