On Pressing Seams Open

Gosh!  This seems to be quite the hot-button issue so, before anyone else e-mails me to say that I'm "doing it wrong," I just wanted to talk a little more about my rationale for pressing seams open. :)

If there's one thing I believe about sewing/crafting/making it's that there is rarely one right way to do things.  There are rules I find useful and rules, like always pressing to the side, that I have no use for.  While I'm hopeful that some of you quilt-alongers (and my goodness there are a lot of you now!) will find some of my methods useful, I'm by no means suggesting that my methods represent the one correct way to do things.  As always, I encourage you to share your own methods in the comments.

  

The short answer to why I press my seams open is that I think it looks nicer but, specifically:

• It makes the blocks lay flatter.

• It results in more even distribution of seam allowances, which makes for easier piecing and quilting (i.e. no big lumps).

• I find that it makes for more accurate piecing. 

I realize that the conventional wisdom suggests pressing seams to the side is best. I've read various reasons for this, including:

• It makes it easy to "hide" your seam allowance under a darker fabric.

• It makes it easy to match seams because, if one allowance is pressed one way and one the other way, you can butt the two against one another to match.

• It's a sturdier construction method for certain kinds of quilting.

• It prevents batting from "bearding" through the pressed open seam after washing.

Let's look at these one by one. . .

It's true that, when all seams are pressed open, you can sometimes see a seam allowance through a very light colored fabric.  (Though, even if you pressed all seams to the side, this would still be true unless your quilt consistently alternated light and darker fabrics.)  For me, this just isn't a concern.  I can't recall an instance where, after quilting, a seam allowance was still visible to a degree that it bothered me.  Having flat blocks is just more important to me.

Some people do find it easier to match seams by butting the seam allowances.  I'm not one of them.  I'm kind of a stickler for accuracy and I just don't find this to be the most accurate way to match seams.  This is one of those areas where you probably just need to figure out what works best for you and go with it.  (It's also important to note that the way you press your seams can definitely vary from project to project or even within the same block.  You may need to try a couple of things before you figure out what you like best.)

It's true that pressing seams to the side is important to stitch-in-the-ditch quilting.  I'll admit that I have a really strong dislike of stitch-in-the ditch and would actively discourage people from using it.  To be quite honest, I just think it's ugly.  I also feel like, if I'm going to go to the trouble of machine quilting, I want to do it in an all-over pattern that will enhance the overall look of the quilt.  That's not to say that an allover quilting pattern must necessarily be free-motion (a diagonal/diamond pattern comes to mind).  I just prefer an allover pattern to a minimal outline of the blocks.

I'm curious whether anyone has had any experience with this bearding issue (actual experience with batting doing this -- not just being warned against it) because it's something I have never had a problem with.  I suspect that may have to do with the fact that I use natural fiber batting, but I also think it may be another of those situations where contemporary materials have become sophisticated enough that this maybe isn't the issue it may have been in the past.

Anyway, I hope this explanation is helpful!

Comments

[Sarah]

I agree wholeheartedly! I'm working on a Stack-N-Whack quilt at the moment and there is no way you could accurately piece the blocks without pressing the seams open...if I tried ironing them to one side, it would be an absolute disaster. I'm weaning myself away from stitch in the ditch cause, like you said, it just doesn't look as good. Thanks for sharing your expertise!

[Michelle]

I wondered if this question would come up - I think you should do a poll! Personally, I normally press to the side, because I'm too lazy to press open. :)

[Jocelyn]

I've always pressed seams to the side, but I am L O V I N G this new method.

[Kat]

Have people actually emailed you to say you're doing it wrong?? If so, that's...bold of them.

I go back and forth between the two methods depending on the block. When I'm sewing a lot of little seams and I need to be very accurate, I press open. For long sashing-like seams, I don't bother.

[Heather]

you are kind to compile the pros/cons of both methods. . . sorry you've encountered some finger wagging. I say we all do our best--work in our comfort zones--use our short-cuts and be so happy to have others to share the experience with:). I'm not ready for this lovely project, but am learning as I read along.

[Katie Favara]

I'm so glad you discussed this. Even though I began sewing clothing, and always ironed the seams open, I've always been taught to iron to one side in quilting. I have never even asked for the reasoning behind doing it. I have just done as I've been told. I'm glad to see the reasoning behind both sides. While I have grown accustomed to ironing to the side when making quilts, I have thought there have been times that ironing open would have been better. I will be more willing to do what's right for me in the future. Thanks for the insight!

[jacquie]

wow...wrong, that's quite the bold statement. thanks for the thoughtful explanation. i'm slowly moving to pressing open in most situations. i agree...the block does lie flatter and with really precision work it helps so much. so appreciate you sharing all of your expertise.

[Lisa]

So funny you posted this. I was working on another quilt today and thinking how much I liked the look of the seams pressed open. As you say, the piecing is more accurate as well. It's been great learning from you, I am always amazed at your talent!

[CarolE]

I've been quilting for about 30 years and have always pressed my seams to one side for the reasons you mentioned. But I've been admiring the neatness of your work for awhile and I'm ready to give your way a try on my next project. I wasn't able to stitch along with this tutorial, but it's so well done I definitely want to go back to the beginning and do it. Thank you!

[Jess]

It is unfortunate that anyone would chide you for your quilting decisions. I really appreciate the care that you have taken in all of your tutorials.
I press all my seams open, It seems like less thinking to me.
Anyway, thanks!

[lori]

I haven't been able to join in (but will definitely come back to these posts soon to give it a go on my own) but I really enjoy all the advice you offer. I can't believe anyone was tsk-ing over your choice to press seams open. I usually press to one side (not that I'm a master quilter by any means) just because that's the way I do it.

I always say that if you're producing a product you are happy with, then you're doing it right. I appreciate the information about the different methods available.

[Chris]

Thank you for having the confidence to put this out there as your method rather than doing what everyone else has always done. It encourages the rest of us to find our own way too! I am also finding it nicer to press seams flat these days but I seem to not do it very well. Can you show us how you get the seam open without creating a pressed crease on the front side of the seam?

Am I the only person who doesn't do this successfully? I feel like an idiot asking you to do a tutorial on pressing seams open but there you are!

[WendyLou]

You rock!!

[MaryP]

I used to press mine to the side (for about 18 years). In the last year or two I started pressing them open and everything lies much flatter, which I like a lot. Also, if you look at what Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle say in their books, they press their seams open too.

[Patricia]

When I started quilting I always pressed to the side, but had difficulty with quilting especially when the block had lots of seams. I was a dressmaker first and we always pressed seams open, so I figured if my seam held in a pair of tight fitting pants, surely it would hold in a quilt. So far it has worked and is especially with lots of seams.

[Kit @ Diva Quilts]

I mostly press open, but will sometimes press to the side if it seems reasonable to do so.

as for the bearding issue - I had that happen only once, and it was when I was a: using an inexpensive batting (polyster - which I've never used since) and b: I was doing extremely tight stitching which I haven't done since then.

I don't know which caused the bearding (or if it was both) but I haven't had the issue ever again.

(I can't believe this is a hot button topic! lol)

[JaiCi]

I have always pressed to a side because that's what my mom did. I don't think there's a right or a wrong way - it's a personal preference. :)
Nice post!!
I agree - you should do a poll...

[Valerie]

I do have one quilt that 'beards' through the pieced seams (I always call it shedding :) ) but I didn't make it myself and I have no idea what the person who did make it used for batting. It's also not 'all over quilted', it's tied, and I think that may have more to do with why it sheds than the way the seams are pressed.

[cherrie]

I was taught to press to the side of the darkest fabric and to alternate rows if possible. This makes it possible to match seams perfectly without much stress. However, I have always wondered why other peoples work was not as bumpy as mine. Now I know. Thankyou. I think I will take your advice unless I end up not being able to match my seams!

[quirkyparsnip]

I was taught to press open, and I always found it weird when I read to press to one side. I like pressing open so I have never tried to one side. It gets annoying at times, but I think it makes everything else easier. Glad there are others on my side.

[Andi]

While I truly appreciate all the pros and cons of these 2 methods, my preferred method is different again ...
I just iron whichever way the fabric wants to go and try not to spend too much time worrying about it. My quilts are often a little wonky as a result but my motto has always been "A fast quilt is a good quilt" and I just can't be bothered with all that ironing.
In any case, I like my quilts to have that "hand made" look.
Andi :-)

[Loubie Lou]

I agree that it does look nicer with the seams pressed out flat like that (butterfly seams I've always known them as). Despite that I've taken to pressing to one side as I find my sewing machine tends to jump a stitch when sewing over butterfly seams... don't know why this is but it caused more headaches than pretty seams were worth lol

I still reckon they look prettier pressed open though.

[Amy @ parkcitygirl]

Interesting! I recently asked this question on my blog, with a poll. I have been a garment sewer for 20 years and quilter for 10, when I started quilting I skimmed over the ironing parts in the books - 'cause I already knew how to do that :) I have wondered "why" to one side, now I feel a bit more validated in pressing open! I go back and forth, depending on where and what sort of block. Thanks for the info :)

[Mary]

I have pressed my seams open for at least 7 years. I took a class, and because of the technique used, we were told to press them open. One of the other quilters had a pressing stick she used to press her seams open, so that when it came to cross seams she didn't accidentally press one of them the wrong way. I came home with a 1" dowel and asked my husband to cut it in half lengthwise. I have two half circle sticks that I've used since then, one is 48" long and the other was cut into 18" pieces. I love the way my blocks lay flat, and I'm much less likely to stretch bias seams because I press instead of iron. I love your work and plan to use this tutorial later. Thanks for sharing.

[Jodie]

Another wonderful and thoughtful post. I'm sorry that you were accosted through e-mails.

I have appreciated every minute that you have spent on this quilt along and thank you for sharing your time and talent!