NollR Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 I have always told my customers when they piece their backings, to use a 1/2" seams and press the seam open. I was online in the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't sleep and found another longarmer who tells customers to leave the seams to one side. Thoughts?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Why? That seam pressed to the side will have a triple layer of fabric and may show as a slight bump on the back. Why not? It might not matter unless the quilt is going to a show. Then if the bump noticeable the judge might offer an unfavorable comment. The only reason I can imagine for suggesting this is if the pressed-open seam has extreme tension on it there's a possibility of seam stitches pulling slightly apart and showing from the backside. But really, if you're pulling apart the seam, you've got the backer tension way too tight. Just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 I use my serger to do backing seams when I need them. It's faster than my sewing machine, and I don't fret about the extra "lump" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy (SewAsylum) Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 I press mine to one side and don't worry about the lump either. But my quilts are for me or family, not for show. They don't notice or care at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinneaMarie Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 I've gone both ways! You all know how I am! hahaha I tell my customers if they piece the back to make the seam parallel with my bars. For my own; which I have NO time to do, I press the seam OPEN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcclannan Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 I always press backing seams open. I do not like unnecessary bulk. Just me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 I find that they lay better pressed open, although I get them both ways! I always press mine open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NollR Posted May 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Thank you for all the opinions!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I am an open person too, however if they have already pressed to the side I go with that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferBernard Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I press to the side because I don't want to take a chance of the seam pulling apart in , hopefully , long years of cuddly wer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaSteller Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I never piece backings for my own quilts, but I think I'd prefer them pressed to the side, just for the integrity of the seam. Your whole quilt top, unless it's a whole cloth, is made of seams pressed to the side, so what's the big deal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micajah Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 I never piece backings if I can help it. I would much rather have a whole back, and the prices are less than paying twice for yardage it would take to piece a back. Just today, I did a customer quilt with a pieced back. Bless her heart, but no one had told her she could make the backing with a horizontal seam. She did a vertical seam, which meant she bought fabric the length of her quilt twice! It was small enough that the horizontal seam would have fit and would have been cheaper too. I called her to ask how she meant it to be used, and when she said vertical, well, I don't do vertical! Hate the hassel of keeping the backing from pulling and pooching along the seamline. I told her that I would have to load it horizontally, because I have a disablity that prevents me from picturing in my head how to load and quilt the quilt sideways in order to use the backing in the direction she intended top to bottom, down the middle of her quilt. In other words, I was going to do a horizontal seam or not at all. It came out just fine too. I think I will have to post a sign that says, "quilters dyslexia prevents me from quilting your quilt if it has a vertically pieced seam. You may however, press the seam in whatever manner you like, as that is not part of my dyslexia." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Too funny! I have one on the frame now where the backer has three seams running horizontally, but they're separated by a long 12" strip pieced vertically that goes the length of the backer. I loaded it with that strip running vertically and that thing was so poorly seamed it sagged like crazy right from the first inch. You could see where the fabric on one side of the seam had been stretched to fit. It's quilting fine, since I knew to check that middle section with every advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 I always press my backing seams open, but many of my customers press to one side. It doesn't seem to matter so much if I can run it with the seams running horizontally on my roller, but when those triple thicknesses are loaded vertically, it seems to be an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 i prefer my backing seams to be pressed to one side, but it is for wearability and no other reason. the only thing that matters to me is that selvage edges be cut off when joining long pieces of fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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