PRESSING

Gently press your quilt top, lightly skimming its surface. Do not iron which is a forceful motion that attempts to beat wrinkles into submission and will stretch and distort your fabric. Avoid overworking.

Use steam or lightly mist. We carry Mary Ellen's Best Press, an unscented, clear non-flaking starch in an environmentally friendly pump spray bottle.

To keep work flat and to permit your design lines to match, press every seam before joining it to another.

Press seam allowances toward the darker color. When you cannot do that, hide the darker color by trimming its seam allowance.

EXCEPTION: When four or more seams come together (this is especially important when sewing on flannel), shorten the length of your piecing stitch and press the seams open instead of to one side. Intersections will lie flatter and look nicer when quilted. However, bear in mind, we will not be able to stitch-in-the-ditch as it will weaken your seam.

For backs, press your seam allowances open.

When matching seams, press the allowances in opposite directions. This prevents bulk, makes your quilt top lie flatter, and allows for accuracy in piecing.

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