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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: Butterflyrf71
Date: 06-19-2006, 05:57 PM (1 of 21)
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I started with a sample quilt. Scraps and simple double nine patch, making it really big for practice. My square wil lend up like 24", lol. Someone help me with the ironing! They won't stay with finger pressing, and I keep reading mixed things about using steam, not using steam, iron on back, iron on front, aghhhh! I bough the "Quilting Bible" this weekend at Jo Ann's with my 50% coupon - and I love it - but they always leave something out. My finger is also on the order button for EQ5 (Electric Quilt 5). I have to have that! I've designed so many blocks, I can hardly wait to set up a website! You Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm, and place their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3, AV
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User: Butterflyrf71
Member since: 05-02-2006 Total posts: 257 
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From: Hogmami
Date: 06-19-2006, 06:19 PM (2 of 21)
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You don't iron, you press. That is don't move the iron back and forth just sit it down and press. I have always been told to press the seam toward the dark color. Hope this helps.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
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From: Patty22
Date: 06-19-2006, 08:36 PM (3 of 21)
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Yes, we press and the maid irons. (A friend of mine always corrected me on my improper use of technical terms.)
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: esrun3
Date: 06-19-2006, 10:30 PM (4 of 21)
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I always press with steam-seems to help the seams lie better but remember to press-not iron.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 06-19-2006, 11:54 PM (5 of 21)
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Spray starch....I LOVE to starch my blocks and my whole tops and backs. Makes it easier to line up, sew straight and keeps it all nice and flat, for when you start to pin and quilt.
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 06-20-2006, 10:39 AM (6 of 21)
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Here are some links about pressing quilt blocks. Hope this helps! http://quilting.about.com/od/pressingtechniques/ss/press_blocks.htm http://www.scrapquilts.com/pressing.html TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: kmccrea
Date: 06-21-2006, 06:53 PM (7 of 21)
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I press all seams I stitch, regardless of whether they are in garments, home decor items or quilting. Because if you don't the item will look bumpy and poorly made even if you took the utmost care in selecting a good quality fabric, designing the project and stitching it. I use a lot of steam (I work with natural fibers) and I press down on the seams with the iron really, really HARD! Don't be afraid to put pressure on your quilt blocks, you won't hurt them and you won't break your ironing surface unless it's really old and rusty. If you are working with shiny or more sensitive fabrics put a thin piece of cloth over your seams before pressing. A piece of gauze or batiste should do it. That will help prevent shine where the seams are pressed. I hope this helps, Katherine Katherine McCrea
Designer At Large |
User: kmccrea
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 173 
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From: Patty22
Date: 06-21-2006, 07:14 PM (8 of 21)
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I happen to press all my seams open and I especially prefer this with quiltmaking. I have not had a problem with shadowing and with bulk at seams with multiple intersections. I feel that hand piecing was best with seams pressed in one direction because it would reduce the stress of an open seam. However, with a machine stitched seam, I don't see the need to have the same concern of seam strength. http://pelkovitch.photosite.com/Album1/ Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Butterflyrf71
Date: 06-21-2006, 07:45 PM (9 of 21)
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Thanks everyone - I took my first set of test blocks, and chucked em in the trash, lol. I started over and they are much better! It takes practice to get it just right. The pressing on the front, then the back, and walla! Wonderful everyone! You Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm, and place their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3, AV
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User: Butterflyrf71
Member since: 05-02-2006 Total posts: 257
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 06-23-2006, 08:28 PM (10 of 21)
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This might help someone, its a problem I had.. I made placemats and pressed the seams open while piecing the blocks.. When I quilted, I did stitch in the ditch for part of it, and the quilting stitches were OK for the most part, but in several places the needle pierced the old stitches where I had put the blocks together.. So now, I echo instead of stitch in the ditch.. Works better and no repair stitching to be done..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: wordpainter
Date: 06-25-2006, 10:37 PM (11 of 21)
| What is echo stitching???? |
User: wordpainter
Member since: 05-21-2003 Total posts: 1 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 06-25-2006, 11:23 PM (12 of 21)
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right next to or 1/4 in away from the seam....on Rag Merchant easy big shirts when you sew them together (because you've made 'blocks' for the shirt) you press the seams open, then echo stitch 1/4 in on either side of the seam. Keeps the seams flat and the shirt together. You can do the same on quilt blocks...
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Butterflyrf71
Date: 06-26-2006, 07:43 AM (13 of 21)
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The "pressing" is much better and working great. Can someone tell me how to sew over the thickest portion of the blocks when assembling them? I've got 4 squares, 2 rows, putting the top row w/bottom row to finish the square. The very center is all the pressed seams piled up - how to you get over this easily with the machine? Should I change out from my 1/4" foot to the walking foot? I have a feeling I shouldn't feed/pull it through, so I though I'd ask first! You Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm, and place their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3, AV
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User: Butterflyrf71
Member since: 05-02-2006 Total posts: 257
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From: Patty22
Date: 06-28-2006, 08:03 AM (14 of 21)
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This is where pressing has either paid off and made your life easier Robin, or it has become more complicated. With that said, let me explain that I always press my seams open. This way when I come to an intersection the bulk is always evenly distributed. If you press your seams in one direction, you will need to either press them light to dark......but you also need to think in advance and decide if the bulk of the seams will be more evenly distributed if a certain section is pressed in reverse (when the block is assembled). This is so when you join your "rows" together - your seams should meet - each "row" has seams in the opposite direction. Your seams will also match better if the "row" closest to the machine has it's row pressed towards you and the top "row" pressed away from you. This way the feed dogs on the machine will grab the bottom seam allowance and help pull the bulkier area through without shifting your seam line meaning they will line up better. DO YOU SEE WHY I PRESS MY SEAMS OPEN? Just too much for me to keep remembering! I think it was either Judy Martin or Marsha McCloskey that pressed their seams open when I was first quilting and I followed their method of construction. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Butterflyrf71
Date: 06-28-2006, 08:47 AM (15 of 21)
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I started a new set of blocks last night (I wasn't happy with the others). I haven't pressed them yet so I will try open seams. I got much better blocks using the grid method - so I am now giving that a try vs. cutting triangles and then sewing. This seems to be better for me, my triangles are so nice a lined up now. Tonight I try to assemble the pinwheel, again. I want my points perfect (slightly OCD here). I also tried the chain method of sewing them - that is soooooo much faster than one at a time! You Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm, and place their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3, AV
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User: Butterflyrf71
Member since: 05-02-2006 Total posts: 257
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From: Patty22
Date: 06-28-2006, 09:37 AM (16 of 21)
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Sewing multiple RT units together at once (I'm assuming this is the grid method you are talking about?) is how I piece. After I rotary cut them apart, I press the RT units open and then I go back to my ruler and rotary cutter and make sure each unit is square. This is an extra step, but I guess I'm a bit OC also. Chain piecing really saves on thread....which can get expensive. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: sews4love
Date: 06-28-2006, 11:33 AM (17 of 21)
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Hi, I am new to this thread. I love to machine quilt and have made lots of baby quilts and several twins and queens. I was taught by my mother 100 years ago to always press seams open. My iron is my best friend. LOL I alsowanted to just add my two cents and confirm what Patty22 said about going back with her ruler and rotary cutter making sure each square is square. I started doing that after several of my quilt squares did not line up perfectly which drove my crazy. It is well worth the extra step in the end. I am a little OCD too. Molly |
User: sews4love
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 57 
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From: Butterflyrf71
Date: 06-28-2006, 02:04 PM (18 of 21)
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I try that, anything to get me closer to perfect - I can hardly wait to have a long weekend off to quilt!
You Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm, and place their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3, AV
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User: Butterflyrf71
Member since: 05-02-2006 Total posts: 257
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From: Patty22
Date: 06-28-2006, 07:38 PM (19 of 21)
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http://pelkovitch.photosite.com/Album2/seams_pressed_open.html I took a picture of a Sawtooth Log Cabin that I made.....hmmmmm...about 13 or 14 years ago.....just so you could see what the wrong side of a block would look like with the seams pressed open. If you advance to the next picture, you will see what the block looks like on the right side. Considering the log cabin block is only 8" .....there are 65 pieces of scrap fabric in one block and then four outside "logs" to make it a 10" block. Even with all those seams, the top lies smooth and there aren't any bumps. You just have to love pressing your seams open and then you never look back. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Butterflyrf71
Date: 06-28-2006, 08:04 PM (20 of 21)
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Can't wait to try it!
You Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm, and place their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3, AV
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User: Butterflyrf71
Member since: 05-02-2006 Total posts: 257
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From: NDNQuilter
Date: 06-28-2006, 08:18 PM (21 of 21)
| Thanks, Judy for the url's on pressing. I had to learn not to iron by doing it on the bias and stretching my block out of shape. Only pressing for me now. Gena |
User: NDNQuilter
Member since: 10-04-2002 Total posts: 90 |
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