I've been looking at these blocks on my sewing table and nearly put them away. That's what I do when I hit a road block - save it for another day and then A UFO IS BORN!
Lori Smith often tells you in her pattern instructions to iron the seams open. I guess I'm one of those old dogs you can't teach a new trick to because I never press my seams open! Well, my blocks were looking a little lumpy so I thought...give it a try. Just open up the seam and press it for Pete's sake!
Look what happened! The back of the block went from this:
To this!
OK, new trick learned! I'll be pressing my seams open more often from now on. I almost wore that little block out taking out stitches and putting them back in over and over! Now, I have to rip out the other 5 blocks and get this project out of the danger zone of becoming a UFO.
Do you press your seams open or to the side and do you have any thoughts you want to share with me about this subject?
OK, now back to bed for some rest!
I don't press my seams open. I like them to the dark side. It makes matching up seams easier for me
ReplyDeleteomgosh what a difference
ReplyDeleteI will consider doing that next time that happens to me!
when I sewed clothing I always pressed open but in quilting I press to the side. Maybe in some cases, pressing open would be better to avoid so much bulk.
ReplyDeleteI do both. Mostly I press to one side, but there are times when ease of construction calls for open seams. Also I find that open seams are sometimes easier to hand quilt - anything that will lessen the bulk is a good thing *s* Hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI have the quilt on your header .
ReplyDeleteI have to quilt it.
Any suggestions as to what design to use?
I did not think you can open up seams for quilting.
ReplyDeletenot a bad idea. may have to give it a try.
I'm like Libby....I do both. If I'm working on a block with lots of seams, I press them open. If it is a block with just a few seams, I will press toward the dark.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere I read that pressing the seams open came about when people hand-pieced because hand-stitching was weakened when pressed open....but with machine piecing, that is no longer an issue. Makes sense to me.
Hi Judy,
ReplyDeleteI do press my seams open in some cases, it just depends on the block. My preference is open, but sometimes the block just lends itself to pressing to one side.
Its a beautiful "Spring" day here in South Carolina.