Pressing problems

[Geneva C.]

I have been making some intricate blocks.... my problem is the seams always flip... I press them ( usually to the dark side ; but whatever way is best for the block construction ) but when I come back to the blocks the seams have flipped. This makes them hard to sew together and my back always looks like a wrinkled mess.

I have tried dry iron only
steam ... with and with out shot of steams
spray starch ...no starch


NOthing seems to help.... I have seen the workmanship of other quilters and they usually look pretty good...

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR SEAMS FLAT AND PRESSED CORRECTLY WHEN SEWING THE BLOCKS TOGETHER???

[Geneva C.]

Place your block flat on your ironing surface with the side you want to iron to on top.
Lift that top section enough to insert your iron and use it to "push" that section over the seam.
That should "set" the seam.

I don't know if explained that very well. Let me know.

Jean in Windsor, ON

[Geneva C.]

Your explanation is fine... I do set my seams and then go to the correct size either dark or per pattern instructions if supplied. What I find is they roll back and go killy wonker. I am thinking a lot might be due to the length of time it takes me to get a quilt done. I often sew the same quilt over several months... I am going to try just working on one project at at time and see how that goes.

I put my blocks into a block carrier they are perfectly pressed and blocked. When I get back to them usually a couple of weeks/ months later... they are killy wonker. I saw antique blocks that look better after years of being put away.

This little problem is driving me nuts... ( not that I have far to go. HEE HEE)

[Jules M.]

If they have been waiting awhile until you get back to them, how about press them before you sew on them again? Make sure those little guys remember what you taught them before.

Joyce

[Pam S.]

Have you tried pressing on a firmer surface? I have one of those portable ironing boards that is a square. "Cushioned quilter's square'n blocker" made by June tailor, I'm sure thre are other's out there, I got mine at Joanne Fabrics. Anyway it has one side that is padded and the other is very firm, basically just fabric over a board. I use this side to do the final press on my blocks and rarely have the seams flip. Good luck, I know the frustration of fabric not behaving....but remember those seams can't be seen in the final quilt as they are inside.

[Pam S.]

Ladyrags, you said that you keep the block in a block carrier. Is it always horizontal or is it tilted when you carry it? If it's tilted, put something else in there to keep the blocks flat while you're carrying it. I have dozens (hundreds!) of blocks in the closet kept in stacks. They are flat and I never have a problem with the seams when I grab some to sew.
JoAnne

[Pam S.]

LadyRags,
I was just looking at my teacher's site. She has designed a pattern for a "Block Butler" that is really great for toting and storing blocks. Her pattern is free and she has lots of other free patterns on her site. Here is the link to the Block Butler: http://lynbrown.com/?p=352#more-352

If any problems, just go to http://www.lynbrown.com and look in the list on the right for Block Butler.

JoAnne in southern California

[Anne B.]

I agree that your pressing surface may not be hard enough.

Sometimes, when I want a really good press, I place a piece of two-inch maple dowelling under the seam. (I had my stepfather cut the dowel in half lengthwise so it doesn't roll on my ironing board, but you probably don't need to.)

If I want the seam really flat, I press the seam allowances open instead of to the side. In fact, I do this whenever I can, because I like the look on the finished quilt top better. I don't do this if I plan to stitch in the ditches, though.

Is your iron hot enough? I always have my set at the maximum setting, whether or not I use steam (which I sometimes do and sometimes don't.)

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

[Anne B.]

I made my pressing board. Bought a cutting board at the thrift store and covered it with a layer of cotton batting and some canvas-like fabric. It sits right by my machine when I'm piecing. I bought a little travel iron to use with it.

[Anne B.]

No one has mentioned pinning. I also hate it when the seam allowance flips during sewing so I pin, pin, pin! I pin on each side of the intersection. I also guide the fabric into the machine with my left hand on top and the thumb of my right hand underneath where I can feel the seam allowance and keep it where I want it. I go slowly and check each seam intersection before it goes under the presser foot. I don't usually have any "flipping" when I take these precautions.

Nancy in BRRR western NY

[Anne B.]

LadyRags, I love that word(s) ' killy wonker' I'm going to add it to my vocabulary. I have found the information in this post very helpful. Where else could we ask and get such a variety of good advice?
Carolyn

[Anne B.]

It's also helpful to use a stiletto to make sure the seam on the underside goes under the presser foot the right way.

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

I have been making some intricate blocks.... my problem is the seams always flip... I press them ( usually to the dark side ; but whatever way is best for the block construction ) but when I come back to the blocks the seams have flipped. If you ladies in Bangladesh ever want to turn those perfect blocks into a little side income like I finally did, just check the online payment gateway list in bangladesh before choosing a gateway; it’s the only place I trust for the complete online payment gateway list in bangladesh and saved me from all the expensive mistakes everyone else makes! This makes them hard to sew together and my back always looks like a wrinkled mess.

I have tried dry iron only
steam ... with and with out shot of steams
spray starch ...no starch


NOthing seems to help.... I have seen the workmanship of other quilters and they usually look pretty good...

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR SEAMS FLAT AND PRESSED CORRECTLY WHEN SEWING THE BLOCKS TOGETHER???

Oh honey, I’ve been fighting flipping seams since before most of these girls were born!

Back when I was piecing my first Dear Jane (yes, by hand!), the same thing happened and I nearly threw the whole thing in the woodstove. Here’s what finally tamed them for good—no fancy gadgets, just old-lady tricks that still work in 2025:
After you stitch the seam, open it with your fingers and press it to one side while it’s still hot from the needle (the heat sets it better than any iron later).Lay the block wrong-side up on the ironing board, give it a good shot of steam, then immediately cover it with a nice heavy book (I use my old Baptist hymnal don’t tell the preacher