Check your strips

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09-23-2020, 08:21 AM

bearisgray

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Join Date: May 2008

Location: MN

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Check your strips

After pressing a strip set - and I think it looks nice and straight - I line it up against a long ruler to make sure that it actually is nice and straight.

If it is, I congratulate myself - if it is not - then I line it up straight against the ruler and press it so that it is aligned properly.

Sometimes my "eye" is not as good as I think it is.

09-23-2020, 10:06 AM

Rhonda K

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Join Date: May 2017

Location: Sunny Florida

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Yes, that is the method I use for strips. Don't use the curve tip of the iron either as it can distort the strip.

Do you press the closed seam first to set the seam?

09-23-2020, 10:32 AM

Cheshirepat

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Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: Massachusetts

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This is much on my mind as I'm beginning to cut fabric for s pattern that will have a LOT of strips! Thanks for the timely reminder!

09-23-2020, 11:01 AM

maviskw

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Location: Central Wisconsin

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I have drawn lines on my ironing board cover. Some even come with a grid marking on them. Then it's easier to line up strips so that they are straight.

09-26-2020, 08:02 AM

juliasb

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Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Waterford Michigan

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I discovered with my vision being so off I can make this mistake very easily. Even when I think I have them straight I discover after the fact that things can be very off even after measuring 3x's!! All we can ever do is our best.

10-01-2020, 12:15 PM

Jingle

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Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Outside St. Louis

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Pressing the strips on the diagonal helps too. This is how I do mine. Learned this from a Lynette Jensen book years ago.

10-10-2020, 03:59 PM

Irishrose2

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Join Date: Jan 2015

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I'm starting a quilt with a jelly roll. I don't want to wash the JR, so I will be steaming each strip. Thank you for the reminder to keep them straight. It bothers me to use unwashed fabric, but it's a Maywood solid which tends to fray so I can't take the chance.

11-08-2020, 03:31 PM

costumegirl

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Join Date: May 2010

Location: Ontario, Canada

Posts: 1,779

Good tips! I always have trouble with this. It would be great to find an ironing board cover with straight lines on it - hmmm I might try to make one

I do have a metal yardstick that might be good to use - will have to find it

Thanks!

Last edited by costumegirl; 11-08-2020 at 03:33 PM.

01-02-2021, 04:20 PM

Deedles

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Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: Texas

Posts: 74

I recently made a 2'x4' ironing board. It's perfect for ironing fabric! I drew a 1" grid, with diagonals, on it with a permanent marker. Great for ironing not only strips but when pressing any seam on the bias, just line the seam on a line!