PRESSING YOUR QUILTS ????s

[Susan B.]

I have an on going problem with pressing.... My blocks start out nice... starches / best pressed so that they fabric is easier to cut and assemble into blocks... they are easy to sew into assembly ... then some nasty gremlins come a long and wrinkle every block. This is what my quilt looks like when I get done... Yes I press along the way but it always looks messy once assembled.

Any help or suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated on how I can assemble my blocks with less of a mess...

Lady Rags
aka
Nonnie
.
.

[Susan B.]

What is your pressing surface like. If it has too much padding, it could cause problems with the pressing. I have a board with only one layer of thin batting and canvas. I took a class that taught pressing. One part says that when you set your seams, make sure they are straight. I have a line on my pressing board to line the edge with. Press, and give a moment to cool before moving. Then press seams in the direction you want, let cool again. Sound silly but it seems to make a difference in my pressing. I'll look for the notes and send it to your email.

[wendy w.]

A lot of bias seams there Nonnie, the quilting will probably sort it out.

[Norma H.]

It seems to me that your problem might have to do with seams not totally straight. In the upper right corner the wonkyness could be because you don't have exactly the same seam allowance for the whole seam. Else I would try what Cheryl suggested.

[Margo C.]

Anna, what do your blocks look like before you sew them together? Are they absolutely flat? Are seam pressed correctly? Is each block trimmed to the proper size before you sew it to another one? You might want to investigate Sally Collins: http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Prec...=sally+collins

(TQS featured a wonderful video by Sally for a while, but it is no longer available.)

I know that you have all the older TQS shows on DVD. Go back and review show #1104 with Tommy Romano.

[Margo C.]

Thank you... I have Sally's DVD ... the blocks were flat and seams are pressed flat
The problem usually comes in the assembly. I start with squared up / pressed blocks but by the time I get things assembled ...the top is wonky and wrinkled. I will try a different iron surface as it is very old. I want one of those wide boards that go over the ironing board.

I have seen other quilters an somehow they keep their blocks / quilt top pressed and nice.

I will keep working at it.

THIS is LOOSE CHANGE pattern by Lynn Hagimier .. you get double layers .... maybe that is why

[Margo C.]

Steady Betty is the best thing in the world for a quilter to use before sewing their quilt together. Also be careful not to stretch your fabric to fit. When I do this I have your problem.

[Margo C.]

i had the same problem when i began quilting, till now i have now and then.
i solve it by washing the fabric, then tear it to a larger size of 3/4" then needed, starch it heavily,
cut to the right size.
sew with Angler 2 (from pam bono), in addition i put a note pad just lower then the needle so i am sure it is real the size.
even with those prevent actions, i get the block not all the time right, but near enough to the right size.
i dont iron the quilt when it is full top.
i sandwich the top following sharon schamber method. keeping it strait.
do not quilt it too heavily, but all the quilt the same quantity of quilting (it is make a huge change, and distortion! if you quilt heavily/non heavily on the same quilt).
then when i bind it, i cut the binding stip from the length of the fabric, as well heavy starched. - i got a tip from some one, if i pull it a little while sawing, it keeps the quilt strait. it works.
good luck!
becky

[Rita C.]

I think this is a pressing issue too. Do you set your seams before pressing them in the direction you want them to go first? Lately I have been pressing my seams open and I find that this makes for much flatter seams also. it looks to me from your photo that you have not quite got some of the seams as flat as they could be. Definitely time to create a larger, flatter ironing surface. You can find various tutorials for this on Youtube. Good luck.

[Rita C.]

Some little gremlin wadded up the quilt top I'm working on and apparently slept on it a couple of nights ago. I was not happy with the person who left the door to my quilting room open.