World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of March 10, 1997:
Our question this week comes from Maureen Grantham
When joining blocks how do you get all the seams to lie flat and not
twist?
Teresa Fitzgerald :
I use a tool called the Purple Thang. It is
a plastic stick with a flat end that will fit
under the quilt top to keep your seams going
in the right direction. Check your throat plate
on your sewing machine. Mine has a little bump
from the bed of the machine to the throat plate
that catches the seams. The Purple Thang takes
care of this problem. You can find it in the
Keepsake or Clotidle catalogues.
Nicole Humphrey :
There is nothing wrong with pinning. I also 'help' my machine feed the seams in evenly...
Nora Zabowski :
When it's time to sew rows of blocks together, I find the walking foot is wonderful. If theres any extra fabric, it makes it smooth instead of making a dart!
Annette Boersma :
I find that if I keep a pressing cloth and a hot iron next to my sewing machine, I'm more diligent at ironing every seam I sew. If I take that extra minute to iron or at least damp finger press every seam in the direction I want, I don't have as much of a problem with 'twisted seams'.
Deloa jones :
I use a block chain sewing method. when I sew the strips of the block together I sew with the previous row on the top, so that I can see which way the seams have been sewn previously.
Jean Polen :
If I press each block carefully before I join them and, wherever possible, butt
them up (top seam pressed away from me, bottom seam pressed towards me) so that
the action of the feed dogs and the presser foot pushes them together, they are
much less likely to twist. Twisting, though, isn't necessarily all bad. There
are times when I twist seams on purpose--either I want to keep the extra fabric
nder the darker seam, or the next set of seams won't butt together the way I want
unless I twise the seams. This can make for some difficulty if you are stitching 1/4"
away from the seam, so I try to minimize twisting on purpose.
Emi Clark :
Good planning on how to press your seams
is the key. You have to think about this
ahead of time when you are constructing
your blocks. It isn't always possible to
get all the seams to lie opposite of one
another. No matter what you are told by
the "most experienced quilters," it is
also acceptable to press your seams open
(yes, I said open) on occasion. I find
this is helpful especially when constructing
blocks with 60 degree angles. No doubt,
there are many who will disagree and will
state their opinion. Just try it. Good
luck.
Amanda Roberts :
When adjoining pieced blocks together,
make sure each block's seams are pressed
in the oposite direction of each other.
Then when you place them together, the
seems should snug up to each other and
lay perfectly flat!
Barbara M :
Press, Press,PRESS. Then Just check when you come to an intersection and make sure the seems are lying correctly. It may take a little extra time, but in then end it's well worth it.
Jane Waldrop :
When sewing strips together use directional sewing.That is, sew 1st 2 strips together then when adding additional strips alternate the direction you sew. Top to bottom first time, bottom to top next seam etc. Then press real well.
ele :
If the seams are pressed to the side in a consistant manner, then as you sew to join rows you can predict which way they are to lay.
With experience, you learn to 'read' wrong-direction lumps, and you can correct the seaming with a pinpoint before you sew them.
It also helps to 'stagger' the seams-one row press left and the next right, so that those seams will butt together smoothly.
If your patchwork is accurate, then the seams will just fit together, and you will need far fewer pins. When stitching to match sharp
points, it helps to put the pinpoint into the point slightly above the seam line, and slightly angle it to hold the underseam in position.
Above all, GO SLOW when sewing blocks or rows together. Also, if the seam is positioned so that the underseam follows the direction it
would naturally be pushed by the feeddogs of the machine, you will find they twist less. On long seams, putting a pin in below the stitching
line to hold the underseam in that direction helps and does not interfere with stitching the seam.
If you are handstitching, don't sew the seams down, leave them free floating and stitch point-to-point on the seamlines only.
Marianne Cascaden :
I press, press, press with the iron. I do that every time I sew even the smallest seam.
Adrian H. :
Check the tension on the sewing machine,
and try not to pull the material, let the
feed-dogs do the work. If it is still a
problem, use a walking foot if you have
one. No walking foot? Then use tissue
paper between the feed-dogs and the material.
Jeanann Wohlfart :
Take time to square up all the blocks before
you try to join them together. Pick a common size
and make them all match.You will appreciate it when the all fit!
Deb from CT :
What I do is make a couple (2-4) sample blocks.
I then carefully plan out how I am going
to press each seam so that I get "opposing
seams" that sew together perfectly without
pinning. Using the sample blocks, I test
out my pressing pattern until I find one
where all my seams lie flat. Save that
sample and refer to it throughout the
piecing of your project. Good Luck!!
Sue McMahan/sumac@empnet.com :
If a seam has already been stitched and is twisted, I simply snip the seam allowance within a few threads of the stitching line and press.
Janet Williams :
When joining blocks or sections of blocks, lay the seam allowances in opposite directions, (i.e. top seam allowance to the left, bottom seam allowance to the right) slide the two section together until seam lines match and sew.
Pam :
When you press your piece don't run iron over entire piece, just press down and move to next section.
Jeannette :
I do straight seams for all blocks and sashing
on my serger. The seams tend to 'want' to lie
flat. Also, when pressing seams, try to
think ahead and alternate the directions
of the seams, this takes away the bulk of
fabric at adjoining seams so they stay
flatter.
Kari :
Lots of pressing (especially when stitching the block itself) and lots of pinning!
Helen :
Lots of pressing of seams of the blocks
before you join them. Make sure you
square up the blocks first too.
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