I started on the small quilt using the mini charms I won at How ART Thou? In last week's post I showed you a small quilt I was copying. I cut the minis into quarters which made them 1.25 inches square. Am I nuts? Small squares are more difficult to match up--there's no "give" room at all. Another issue came up: directional fabric. That wasn't too much of a problem.I did some strip piecing in the beginning.
I had this bad brain storm to press the seams open. My thought process gave hope to nice flat blocks. Oh yes, they are flat. However, there was no locking of the seams. That meant I had to do some careful pinning and lots of do overs. If they still didn't meet up well, then machine basting was the next step. If the third try didn't work, that was it. (Like three strikes and you are out.)
There's been discussion about open seams not being as strong. Heck, my pants have open seams and I sit smack-dab on that seam most of the day. Have you tried pressing your seams open? Opinion?
Marcy
Nothing like a good challenge of mini pieces to keep you on your toes! Looking good. I press some of my seams open, but as a general rule I press them to the side. Someday I'd like to enter a quilt into a show and they've been known to check pressing direction. Pressing open can sometimes allow the stitching to show, especially after washing if fabric hasn't been prewashed. A quilt with the seams pressed open is so much easier to quilt so it's very tempting to press them all open.
ReplyDeleteMarcy, I press seams open on some things. It depends on the project, pattern etc. The reason for pressing seams to the side all got started back in the hand sewing days. Because when you hand piece you cannot get your stitches as close together as machine piecing, and by pressing to the side it strengthened the seams and hid any batting from the quilt that could show too. Once we started doing it all by machine this was not an issue. You can talk to dozens of quilters and some will always press to the side, some will always press open, some will do a combination. There is no right or wrong answer. You must do what works for you and the quilt. I've done it all and I can tell you I tend to mix up my pressing, depending on what works best for that particular quilt. Never had a problem no matter which way I pressed.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to press open; am doing my version of a mini-charm square with 2.5" squares--HUGE compared to yours, I know. But I have collected a ton of French General mini charms and want to showcase them--they are so yummy! I like your triple 9-patches and have just ended my "jag" with those! Hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteI love quilts made of small squares! Delicate looking. Tiny peaks at beautiful motifs.
ReplyDeleteI myself press to the side, even when I make clothes (toward the back). I find that the stitching is less showing and sturdier this way. I only press open when the fabric is tick.