Quilt Prep: Pressing Your Seams

If you’ve read any of the other Quilt Prep tidbits we have you’ll probably notice that I’m pretty laid back and happy to work with just about anything. My goal is to help us both focus our attention on the things that really matter so we are set up for success at the quilting stage. I want to avoid customers feeling intimidated or overwhelmed yet ensure their quilts turn out wonderfully. But when it come to pressing your seams, I’m not going to be able to absorb lower quality work as well.

How well you press your seams throughout the construction of the quilt is one of the most impactful elements of success at the quilting level. Let me stress that we are talking about your seams, not about the creases that come from packing it up for delivery or the fold in your backing fabric - those are not concerning. I’m talking about where the fabrics are pieced together. Let’s get to it.

Pressing your seams should start from the moment you begin sewing. I have thoughts and guidance on when to press open and when to press to the dark side in another blog post here. If you are following a good pattern, it will guide you in how best to press for that particular project. Beyond that, the goal should be that your fabric on the back, front, and juncture points are as flat as possible throughout construction. Failing to press as you go along will result in piecing that has full spots, fabrics that don’t lay flat, and distortions in the quilt top. Continuing to do that compounds the problem until you have a whole quilt top of issues.

That was kind of dramatic and extreme. It’s pretty rare that I encounter a quilt top from someone who didn’t press as they sewed, but it does happen. Clearly I’m not talking about you, your quilts are spectacular. :)

Giving the finished quilt top one final press before packing it up is most welcomed. Running the iron over it one more time will help you identify any bumps or trouble spots and smooth out any areas that feel full.