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How to Quilt>Ironing Seam Allowances
Pressing Seam Allowances
Although I usually talk about ‘ironing’ seam allowances, the more correct term is ‘pressing.’ Holding your hot iron in one place, then lifting it and pressing it down in the next place without sliding your iron, will prevent the fabric from becoming distorted. When pressing seams, it’s a good idea to think about which direction you want the seams to face in the finished quilt. Generally the quilt goes together better when the seam allowances face in opposite directions, and you can butt the seams up against each other. There are a couple of exceptions: 1. When sewing a star, usually it’s best to press the seam allowances in the same direction – in a circle. The center comes together, looking like a pinwheel, and can be pressed flat. Sometimes four patches work better when the seams are pressed in a similar manner, creating a kind of 4 point star in the center where all seams meet. Another option for pressing seam allowances for an 8 pointed star is to press them open. This, too, will help spread the bulk of the seams to make your star points fit perfectly in the center of your block or quilt.
2. A Dresden Plate frequently benefits from pressing the seams open. This makes it easier to fold under the seam allowances in the curves. It’s ideal if you can press all of your seams in opposite directions toward the darker fabric. However, sometimes that won’t work, and to press the seams in opposite directions, your seam allowance will be under a light fabric. The more important idea is to make the quilt with as little bulk in the seams as possible. Flexibility, creativity, and personal preference are the key components in all phases of quilting. Remember, the backside of the top of a quilt will most probably be inside a quilt for its entire lifetime (and way beyond yours!), so do what makes the outside top of the quilt look best and is easy for you to sew. As much as possible, I make sure not to keep any "crossovers" - those seams that are sewn facing one direction on one side of the patch and facing the opposite side on the other side of the patch. Those create bulk in the blocks and cause uneven quilting - whether you are machine quilting or hand quilting.
To read my basic guidelines for pressing seam allowances, view the article about Pressing Seam Allowances in Quilt Blocks.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
©2009, Penny Halgren This article courtesy of http://www.How-To-Quilt.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
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