I tend to do things in a certain way with my quilting but I'm usually open to learning (hence all the books). For years I always used steam to press but in the last 6-8 months I've been using a dry iron and am surprised how much better I like it.
During the piecing of the block I only press with the dry iron but once the block is finished, I give it a spritz of Mary Ellen's Best Press and press.
Another tip I learned a couple years after I'd gotten my longarm was that I didn't need to press my backs before loading them on the longarm. A little spritz of water after the back is loaded gets even the most stubborn wrinkles out.So what tips for quilting do YOU have to share?
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19 comments:
Thanks for the tip about the backings. Anything that saves pressing time is a good thing.
My useful tip? Do NOT think "I'll just do one more pass/motif on the longarm" when you are tired. Ask me what I spent yesterday evening doing? Yep, unsewing the results of ignoring my own advice!
I would love it if I didn't have to press my backing fabrics - it's my least favourite part of the whole process.
I'm not sure I have any useful tips - it's still a learning process for me.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)
I have always pressed with a dry iron. Only use steam when the block is done. I like the tip about Mary Ellen's best press! Where do you buy that? Fern
I just recently tried Mary Ellen's Best Press and I love it. It works really well and smells divine.
At the moment I can't think of any great tips to share.
Why do you like ME Best PRess? I can't get past starch is starch, sizing is sizing. Is it a differant type of starch? Is it the scent? Do you use it for pressing items other than quilting? I really have been curious about it.
I've made a few wall quilts and lap quilts over the years, and had read this tip many times. Why I never chose to heed the advice is beyond me, but maybe someone else is also in need of hearing this again: When sewing rows of blocks together, pin, pin, pin. When I did pin them in the past, I was very frugal about it - but the more pins, the better your blocks will match up. I just sewed 36 blocks together, and every single one is a perfect match to the next one...only because of all those stickpins. I have sewn for 40 years and should have known better!
Thanks for the tip on starch. Your block looks perfect!
I like to use starch on my fabrics before I cut. It helps to keep the pieces from stretching out of shape as they're sewn and handled.
I like using the starch too, before and after piecing. I still can't get past steaming. I try dry ironing, but the results I get with steam are still way better than dry.
My tip is, don't make it a race just to get it finished. Slow down and enjoy the whole process of quilting! Cutting, piecing, pressing, quilting, binding, I love it all!
I love ME's Best Press. I usually use it on stubburn wrinkles when pressing the whole fabric and I use it on finished blocks.
However, when piecing I still always use steam. I can just get my seams so much flatter with steam than I can with a dry iron.
the tip about backings is great!
I haven't come across Best Press anywhere here, maybe next time I'm in the states I'll look for it.
When I use steam for pressing I, leave the pieces I've pressed to cool on the board before picking them up, I find there is less distortion that way. I used to only press with a dry iron and that worked fine, I'm not sure why I started using steam.
I am the same as you...dry iron (had terrible problems with spitting irons) and Mary Ellen's Best Press.
I had a habit of pressing the seam closed first, then opening or pressing to one side (which ever I feel like at the moment) on the back and then turning the block or quilt to the right side and pressing again.
I could press quilt blocks for hours, but hate ironing a shirt for 5 minutes!
My tip (guess how I know) press, don't iron! Especially bias edges. Recently I had some pretty wonky blocks due to overworking them, ironing them to death!
I've never used steam, starch or ME's Best Press. I may have to give it a try.
My tip-use a stiletto when you're sewing your seams. It can hold onto the fabric right up to the needle. That way you won't get off the 1/4 inch.
I bought ME Best Press because the steam button on my iron quit. I love it. Citrus is my favorite.
I've always used steam to press my blocks...just never thought to try a dry iron. I'll test it out on my next round of blocks. Love the pink & cream block! Can't wait to see more blocks/finished top.
I also like ME's Best Press - it's a "starch alternative" available at you local quilt shop. It doesn't leave the residue that regular starch leaves and/or builds up. I also like using spray sizing. My tip is to make my iron last longer and prevent the spitting - I simply use water in a spray bottle and "spritz" my fabric and then press with a hot iron - same results without the steam or spitting. I don't need to add steam to my sewing room when it's 100 outside!!!!
I starch my fabric before I cut out my blocks, then press with a dry iron - I've had too many bad experiences with blocks becoming distorted to use steam - also, I notice that cheap fabric (Joanns), stretches and distorts much more than good quality quilt shop fabric. I suppose that's because the thread count in the greigh goods is much lower. I recently just started using a little wooden press when working with strips - I really like it - it saves a lot of jumping up and down to iron and doesn't distort the strips like pressing often does.
Linda
Nice to see..great work..keep going..
I like this blog..
Thanks for sharing...
___________________
Andrew
The Best PRICE for the BEST ENTERTAINMENT
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