Steam? Or not?

When I am piecing, I have a dry iron on the windowsill beside me (on a spare wall tile for safely). I have my very small ironing board (home-made, about 14 inches or so square, with feet made from doorstops) leaning on the legs of my table, just within reach of my right hand. As I piece, I press each seam - I now press open, almost all the time; I just love the extra flat look, but I know I am unusual in that. When I have finished a block or a section, I will then decamp to the kitchen and press with my steam iron. The result is that I never press with steam until I am certain that all is well with the piece(s) I've been working on. Tips on strip sets and cross cutting: pressing open is helpful for cutting evenly; as is placing the strip sets seam side UP. This means that the surface on the cutting mat is the flatter of the two. Setting then pressing is the way to go, as you say. Fine thread is also helpful when you are planning to make strip sets and cross cut - less bulk.

You would have to press very hard with the ruler, to avoid a zig or zag at a bumpy seam. That's one reason why I adopted pressing open. It is no more prone to pleats on the other side, that pressing to the side, and a quick flick of a finger-nail opens even a quarter inch seam quite readily.

If you are cutting the strips and the piece you are cutting from is folded, that is a favourite situation for zigs and zags to occur. You will almost certainly get a better result if you place the folded edge nearest to you before you cut - thus you get the greater weight on the ruler and the strongest push on the cutter.

Hope something there helps. . In message , Sartorresartus writes

Yes, I've heard that, too, Sandy. So, Nel, it must be right >g< . In message , Sandy writes

If I said that I prefer to use my right index finger nail - would you believe me? I discovered when making the multiple strata for my curved piecing projects that the best method for working with the seams was to use my finger nail to open the seams first - when I had a full set of strata ready, I would move to the ironing board to use steam - no creases and no warping. I still use my fingernail for all my seams now and prefer the finished product. When I worked on my cousin's chemo-quilt last month, I was glad that I wasn't having to use the iron during the days of heat and humidity. All the blocks were square and I didn't use the iron at all until the quilt top was finished.......I ironed from the top and allowed all the seams to lie as they wanted. Barnyowl -

I'm like Pat - an open seam presser. I must say I mostly use steam with little problems. If the steam creates a problem it also fixes it. When doing cross cuts I usually put a registration line of the ruler on the seam vs. the edge of the strip set I am cutting. Gives me the option of straightening edges if my sewing was a bit off if necessary. I also recently put the clear Invisigrip dots on the 4 corners of my most used rulers and find that has been tremendously helpful. Really keeps the ruler steady and no slips any longer.

Kim in NJ

I am one of those people that has never put water in my iron, ever. I do believe irons last longer when you only run them dry. I keep a spray bottle of water near to hand for stubborn bits, and press things like linen while they are still damp from the wash.

When I am going to be doing a lot of cross-cutting, or crosscutting into weeny bits, I tend to press seams open. I am not generally prone to pressing open on a quilt top, but sometimes you need to have things lying as flat as possible, with fewer layers to cut through for the sake of accuracy.

NightMist

NightMist, you reminded me of something from way back in the days of no steam irons, or at least one that my Mom could afford in the 60's. It was my chore when she was cooking supper to lay the clothes on the kitchen table and sprinkle them with the "sprinkle bottle" so that after supper when Dad and my sister and I sat at the kitchen table doing "homework", I was only in grade school mind you, or playing games, Mom would iron away.

Thanks for the memories.

Steven Alaska

Yep, Steven, I have the same memories. That bottle was a standard feature in the kitchen, my mother used distilled water in it because of the tap water quality in the area [but we all grew up on that same tap water, go figure!]. There was a a spot in the dining room where the ironing took place. My mother ironed shirts, sheets, pants, even underwear. She could put a military crease in like nobody's business.

G> NightMist, you reminded me of something from way back in the days of no

Wow, I forgot all about "sprinkling" with the Coke bottle and cork sprinkler top! Now, I use a plastic spray bottle from the dollar store, but it's not nearly as much fun anymore.....not that I iron much, except quilt-stuff. KT. in MI

Our sprinkler head was a snap-on plastic lid that had had holes poked into it with a nail or skewer. It wasn't fancy, but it worked. I have to admit to having a steam iron and a spray bottle these days.

Lizzy

The Vermont Country Store has them. I bought 2 the last time we were there. Of course, they may be flooded, but the river shouldn't have reached them---maybe I'll check on that. I lived in Grafton and Saxtons River-if any of you have been watching the news on the VT flooding. Very familiar with a lot of the washed out roads. Gen

I'm enjoying this thread. Was a childhood 'sprinkler' myself. I think the last time I looked in my mother's freezer over 10 years ago there were still 'sprinkled' tableclothes in there! And I inherited her need to iron EVERYTHING. When I was still working (and I really should get another job) a few years ago, I ironed my clothes every morning. And DH isn't allowed out of the house for dinners and the like without being ironed as well. It's terrible to be me sometimes.

Kim in NJ