When do youi press a seam allowance open?

[Helen J.]

In today's newsletter, there was a tip for how to press a seam allowance open. When would you ever press a seam allowance open rather than to the side???

[Gloria H.]

Since working on the BOM, I've been pressing seams open because of the multitude of seams. It helps the block lay flat and seems to make aligning the seams easier. Because this is working so well, I've started doing it in other projects too. If I remember right, the reason that seams were pressed to the side was it added strength to hand piecing. That's my input on the matter. Gloria

[Gloria H.]

I have always pressed open. I only press to the side for hand piecing because it adds strength.

Side pressing is just so bulky and ungainly for most machine work I think. Perhaps I'm peculiar or just English!

[Diane O.]

I press seams open, when I'm making something that has a lot of seams that meet, such as a hexagon, a kaleidoscope block, mariners compass... just anything that more than two seams would meet.

I press seams to the side, when I'm sewing fabric with seams that need to match up. Pressing one seam in one direction and the seam on the other piece in the other direction, so that the seams will "fit together" and lock when sewn. That helps reduce the bulk and helps the seams match up better.

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Diane O.]

I had always heard the reason for pressing the seams to the side was so you could do the "stitch in the ditch" quilting. If the seams are pressed open there is no ditch to stitch in. Bobbi

[Judy M.]

I only press seams open to reduce bulk. I prefer pressing to one side so I can stitch in the ditch. Pressing to one side also helps keep batting fibers from migrating if using a poly batt. Judy in Torrance