Quilting Gallery

Circle Quilts

Quick stats:

  • Total submissions: 20
  • Total countries: 4
  • Total provinces: 3
  • Total states: 13

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Armonia de color Armonia de color
By: mariajose gomez,
Spain

Realizado con una idea de Greta´s.Ideal para el dormitorio de un niño.Made with an idea of ​​Greta’s. Ideal for a child’s bedroom

Quilt size: width: 38" height: 80"
Baby Boy Circle Quilt Baby Boy Circle Quilt
By: Jenniffier,
California, USA

This quilt was made for my friends first baby boy. The circles of varying sizes are all raw edge appliqued and the quilt is free motion quilted with stippling in the negative space.

Quilt size: width: 36" height: 42"
Bittersweet Briar Bittersweet Briar
By: Debbie Wick,
New York, USA

I made this Kim Diehl quilt using hand dyed wool and cottons. I blanket stitched golden wool berries and hand appliqued cotton circles in beautiful colors in the border. The flower in the center is also wool blanket stitched circles! The threads matches the color of the wool pieces.

Quilt size: width: 48" height: 48"
Boy's Beach Balls Boy’s Beach Balls
By: Carolyn Braun,
New Jersey, USA

This quilt top has been made to be a baby boy quilt for a friend, I fell in love with the little plaids and argyles and felt they were perfectly boyish. The “beach balls” were created by sewing triangles together into a hexagon and were then reverse appliqued to the blocks before joining them.

Quilt size: width: 33" height: 46"
Circle of Hope Circle of Hope
By: Patricia Moffitt,
Alaska, USA

This was my first circle quilt. I have since made one in turquoise which won a blue ribbon at the state fair.

Quilt size: width: 60" height: 60"
Circles and Sunflowers Circles and Sunflowers
By: Anita at Margret Mary’s Place,
Florida, USA

This was a fun quilt to make..using all batik strings, making large circle blocks and cutting them in half and quarters, switching them around. I also added some paper piece sunflowers to the mix. Quilting was quite demanding. I love how it turned out, check out the link to see the pieced backing!

Quilt size: width: 64" height: 75"
Circles for Baby Stanton Circles for Baby Stanton
By: Carol,
Illinois, USA

I saw this pattern in a recent Fons and Porter magazine. Since I will soon have a new granddaughter, I thought this quilt in flannel would be a perfect baby gift. The colors I included and the jungle animals in some of the prints match the nursery colors and theme.

Quilt size: width: 54" height: 70"
Circles of Frienship Circles of Frienship
By: Bunny,
Ontario, Canada

When my friend passed I got her scraps. We both made many circle quilts and I combined her circle scraps and mine and made this quilt. I machine appliqued circles and machine quilted all over. It make me smile when I see it. She would have loved entering her quilts here. Hugs

Quilt size: width: 40" height: 60"
CIRCLES OF LIFE CIRCLES OF LIFE
By: Jean,
Ohio, USA

This was posted last time, but was meant for this one. It is made from 36″ wide yard sale fabrics that my Mom purchased years ago. The sashing is from a quilt I tore apart to redo that my Great Aunt had made. It is machine appliqued and quilted.

Quilt size: width: 40" height: 52"
Clarice Clarice
By: Rosalind Pollock,
United Kingdom

The whole quilt is of my own design and construction.

All the designs are based on Clarice Cliff’s pottery designs . Each plate pattern is individually appliqued as close as possible to Clarice’s colour choices.

After I made the quilt ,coincidentally, a Clarice fabric range came out!

Quilt size: width: 50" height: 50"
Concentricity Concentricity
By: Cheryl Lynch,
Pennsylvania, USA

This quilt was inspired by a sidewalk detail I came across during my morning walk while visiting St Augustine, FL. I used lots of alternative fabrics in addition to cotton, such as Dupioni silk, organza and lame. The circles were handstitched with lots of different decorative threads.

Quilt size: width: 42" height: 42"
Fresh Baked Fresh Baked
By: Anne,
Colorado, USA

I have a collection of both fruit and veggie dishes and fabric. This quilt is one of several I made to showcase the fabrics and use in my dining room during the summer months. I’ve have also featured citrus fruits, salads, tomatoes and pumpkins. Circles, berries and pies just go together.

Quilt size: width: 40" height: 40"
Maritime Beauty Maritime Beauty
By: Kate,
Ontario, Canada

The pattern is by Karen Neary, and I made this from a kit I got from Mrs. Pugsley’s Emporium, in Amherst, NS. My first real attempt at paper piecing and at curved piecing, and I am thrilled with the results. Now, I just need to quilt it!

Quilt size: width: 30" height: 30"
Patches Patches
By: Rita,
Missouri, USA

I saw this fabric last year in my local quilt shop. I thought the circles would look cool boxed in. Haven’t quilted it yet, hope to finish this weekend.

Quilt size: width: 56" height: 68"
Purple Glitz Purple Glitz
By: Sam,
Saskatchewan, Canada

The original title was ’70’s Porn’ but I wasn’t sure how that would go over. It’s fun and funky. I’m always taken with the drunkards path, it’s my favorite quilt type.

Quilt size: width: 40" height: 60"
Ripple Effect Ripple Effect
By: Beth Helfter,
Massachusetts, USA

Playing with EQ one day, I finally came up with what I thought was a great pattern for a Christmas tree skirt, so I set about sewing up a prototype to see if it was all I anticipated and then some. It was not – because it was too small, but this version made an excellent “Small Topper.”

Quilt size: width: 36" height: 36"
Running Around in Circles Running Around in Circles
By: Barbara Robson,
Nova Scotia, Canada

Originally made for my Guild’s show (Mahone Bay Quilter’s Guild) “Art in Stitches” in 2000 – we had to be inspired by a work of art. I inspired by Kandinsky’s “Concentric Circles”. I have since made several pieces using this theme of circles. It is hand appliqued, machine pieced & hand quilted.

Quilt size: width: 24" height: 30"
Salt Air Circles Salt Air Circles
By: Mary on Lake Pulaski,
Minnesota, USA

I mixed up all the prints from the Salt Air collection from Moda and made Drunkards Path Blocks. I made a table cloth for my table and used the last six fat quarters for napkins.

Quilt size: width: 58" height: 72"
sea crystal + plaid sea crystal + plaid
By: Sarah @ {no} hats,
Indiana, USA

I designed this side of “sea crystal + plaid” with five emeralds, representing the birthstone for the fifth month of May 😉

Quilt size: width: 58" height: 58"
Wedding Quilt Wedding Quilt
By: Izy Denham,
United Kingdom

This is a wedding quilt I made for my son back in 2009. I had seen a similar pattern in a magazine but wanted to make a bit more impact with half drop blocks etc. It was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle putting it all together! I used freezer paper to applique the circles to the back ground fabrics.

Quilt size: width: 96" height: 110"

Mishka

135 responses to “Circle Quilts”

  1. Barbara Pricola Avatar
    Barbara Pricola

    When piecing, I press the seam allowance to one side. I guess the reason I do this is because it was the way I was taught when I first started quilting, but I also think that it keeps the seam stronger than if the seam were pressed open.

    Reply
  2. evelyn Avatar
    evelyn

    I press to get the least amount of bulk…so it would be both ways.

    Reply
  3. Gale Avatar
    Gale

    I press to one side after setting my seam. I find this method works best with seams butting against each other and allowing for less pinning.

    Reply
  4. Theresa Litz Avatar
    Theresa Litz

    99% of the time I press seams to one side…things just seem to “fit” better when I do this. There are those rare times when the seams will be too bulky if I do this and on those occassions, I will break my own rule and press the seam open.

    Reply
  5. Joyce Mitchell Avatar
    Joyce Mitchell

    I normally press seams to one side. I like to have seams butting up against each other when I sew blocks together. But if I’m foundation piecing, I usually press the seams open when I sew the blocks together because there’s usually extra bulk in a foundation pieced block. Thanks.

    Reply
  6. Cynthia Brunz Designs Avatar
    Cynthia Brunz Designs

    I press both ways depending on the block. I usually try to minimize bulk.

    Reply
  7. LeAnne L Avatar
    LeAnne L

    I press seams to the side. Makes it easier to get my seams to match.

    Reply
  8. Gunda Avatar
    Gunda

    I press them in both ways, means, it indepence on the pattern I’m doing

    Reply
  9. Belinda Avatar
    Belinda

    I press to the dark side when possible. 1. It’s easier for me and takes less time. 2. I believe it makes the seam stronger.

    Reply
  10. Karin Avatar
    Karin

    I usually press to one side, making it easier to butt the seams together nicely…however, I’ve been known to press open when there’s too much bulk.

    Reply
  11. Rina Avatar
    Rina

    I press to the dark side but will press them open if there is going to be to much bulk.

    Reply
  12. Julie A. Avatar
    Julie A.

    I do both — if I have a lot of seams I will press open, otherwise I press to one side.

    Reply
  13. barbara woods Avatar
    barbara woods

    I press to the side thanks

    Reply
  14. Christine Slighte Avatar
    Christine Slighte

    Normally, I press to the dark side!

    Reply
  15. Sheri Avatar
    Sheri

    I most often press to the side when piecing but occasionally will press the seams open depending on the block and the type of fabric.

    Reply
  16. Betsy Lynn Avatar
    Betsy Lynn

    I usually press open because of the bulk when quilting.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  17. Kathy Howard Avatar
    Kathy Howard

    I usually press to one side.

    Reply
  18. bonnie Avatar
    bonnie

    I press to one side, because that is the way my Mother did it.

    Reply
  19. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    I usually press towards the dark fabric. I don’t like the seam allowance showing through the light colors.

    Reply
  20. Sooli Avatar
    Sooli

    I usually press to one side, particularly for dark/light fabric combinations but sometimes to reduce bulk I will press seams open. It all depends on the block pattern.

    Reply
  21. Yvonne Avatar
    Yvonne

    I press to one side because I was told to when I started to quilt. Thanks for a great giveaway.

    Reply
  22. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    Most of the time I press to the dark side, but when there’s a lot of bulk I press the seams open…

    Reply
  23. Béatrice Avatar
    Béatrice

    I usually press to one side but I press open when I have multiple seams, to reduce the bulk.

    Reply
  24. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    I press seams to one side, usually to darker side. Then you can nest the seams together when piecing your quilt.

    Reply
  25. Barbara Orozco Avatar
    Barbara Orozco

    I press the seams to one side. I’m no patient enough to press them open, and as I machine quilt, I don’t have any problems with bulkiness.

    Reply
  26. Bev in TX Avatar
    Bev in TX

    I try to press seams to one side, which I think hides thread a bit better, prevents batting bearding, allows the seams to nest as a sewing aid, and if pressed to the darker fabric, prevents seams from showing through light fabric. However, I sometimes do press the seams open, if the result is a flatter block.

    Reply
  27. Kerri Hunter Avatar
    Kerri Hunter

    I tend to press open when I’m doing curved pieces! however I do some tomes do both what ever floats my boat at the time!

    Reply
  28. Barb Colvin Avatar
    Barb Colvin

    Usually I press to one side, but there are times when pressing open is the way to go to reduce bulk.

    Reply
  29. Carol Avatar
    Carol

    All the quilts are unique and lovely! I usually press to one side since that’s the way I was taught, but when there is a great deal of bulk, I press seams open.

    Reply
  30. Klara Avatar
    Klara

    It all depends on the pattern, sometimes with seams coming all together at one point I will press open, but most of the time I press them all to one side.

    Reply
  31. Lorraine Avatar
    Lorraine

    I use both ways, centre of stars need to be pressed open to reduce bulk, but for matching seams I need those pressed aside seams.

    Reply
  32. Tiffany Avatar
    Tiffany

    I press my seams to one side – I think it’s easier to match up points.

    Reply
  33. Veronica (Bunny) Avatar
    Veronica (Bunny)

    I press to the dard most of the time, but there are lots of occasions the seams need to be pressed open. Especially when there are lots of intersections and when the bulk is in the middle I open those little centers. Hard to explain but you probably know what I mean.;)
    Bunny

    Reply
  34. Eileen Avatar
    Eileen

    I press to the side most often, but sometimes I press seams open if they are bulky. Looks like most of us do the same thing. Seems to me that we are all very practical in choosing how we press!

    Reply
  35. lee Avatar
    lee

    Most of the time I press to one side. thank you!

    Reply
  36. ane Avatar
    ane

    Siempre lo hago hacía un lado, considero que la costura es más fija.

    saludos

    ana-ane

    Reply
  37. Jeanne Zukowski Avatar
    Jeanne Zukowski

    I press to the dark as that is the way I learned. But always willing to try a different way if it is better.
    JeanneZ

    Reply
  38. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    I always press to the side. More recently, after 25 years of quilting experience, I experimented with open seams. Change is hard and I went back to pressing to one side.

    Reply
  39. Rosalind Pollock Avatar
    Rosalind Pollock

    When piecing I press whichever way makes least bulk where seams intersect . Mainly I press to one side but occasionally pressing open is better.

    Reply
  40. Colleen Avatar
    Colleen

    I always press to one side. Pressing them open would take too long!

    Reply
  41. Deborah Avatar
    Deborah

    I mostly press to the dark side, but when they are bulky I press open.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Hugs

    Reply
  42. Lea Avatar
    Lea

    When pressing it depends on the block itself as to how I press. If theres a lot of seams to match I press to the dark side if possible. Pressing open when seams don’t need to match up, and when it will create less bulk for quilting.

    Reply
  43. Patricia Dawe Avatar
    Patricia Dawe

    For me the direction and method varies depending on the project.
    Most times I press to the dark side, but if nesting seams I
    will press in opposite directions regardless of light or dark.
    I also press seams open to reduce bulk.

    Whatever works best !!!

    Reply
  44. LINDA Avatar
    LINDA

    HI! I SET THE SEAM WITH THE IRON AND THEN PRESS TOWARD THE DARKER FABRIC. THANKS FOR SHARING!

    Reply
  45. Bertha G Avatar
    Bertha G

    Generally I press to one side, but there have been a few patterns that it seemed better to press open. I bow down to anyone who does circles and curved seams! I am impressed!

    Reply
  46. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    I usually press to one side, unless I need to eliminate the bulk of a lot of seams coming together.

    Reply
  47. Lia Avatar
    Lia

    whatever direction takes the bulk out of the seams, wether that is to one of the sides or pressing open.

    Reply
  48. Anne Avatar
    Anne

    I do both depending on the fabrics I’m using and the piecing. Some blocks just lie flatter when pressed open. Also, when using solid white, I find pressing open helps minimize the show through.

    Reply
  49. Mary on Lake Pulaski Avatar
    Mary on Lake Pulaski

    I press my seams open unless it is a light color fabric that is going to have a shadow.

    Reply
  50. Barb@Witsend Avatar
    Barb@Witsend

    I press my seams to the side because I was taught that way but I recently learned it was taught this way because of the old kind of batting and with the new batting you can press your seam open.

    Reply
  51. Rita J. McCart Avatar
    Rita J. McCart

    I watched several videos and done some reading, People are split. I’ve tried both and settled with “ironing to one side”

    Reply
  52. Becky Coyle Avatar
    Becky Coyle

    I press to one side. I was taught the seams are stronger if pressed to the side.

    Reply
  53. John Visser Avatar
    John Visser

    I press to one side because that is the way I was shown.

    Reply
  54. Jennifer R Avatar
    Jennifer R

    I press to one side mainly because it is they way I was taught.

    Reply
  55. Sandy A in St. Louis Avatar
    Sandy A in St. Louis

    I was taught to press to one side and still do most of the times. There are some instances, though, where I do press the seams open. I have always been told that the threads have less pressure on them when the seams are pressed to one side.

    Reply
  56. carol broughton Avatar
    carol broughton

    I press to one side, toward the darker fabrics as this is how I learned.

    Reply
  57. Carol MacNamara Avatar
    Carol MacNamara

    I use both methods. When making a quilt that will be used a lot, I press to the sides … It really does give more wearability to the quilt. When making a wall hanging, however, I do press open. I have to say that it is a delight long arming quilts with seams pressed open! Needles can and do break going over heavy seams. 🙂

    Reply
  58. Debbie Avatar
    Debbie

    Sometimes open and sometimes to the side. If there are a lot of seams and intersections, I’ll press them open.

    Reply
  59. Sheila Avatar
    Sheila

    I usually press to one side but occasionally if there are a lot of seams I will press open.

    Reply
  60. marjorie henwood Avatar
    marjorie henwood

    I press to the dark side if possible…the way I was taught.

    Reply
  61. Marla Nelson Avatar
    Marla Nelson

    I press towards the dark side especially with white. It was hard to pick just two. They were all so nice. Thanks for having a give away.

    Reply
  62. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    I press to one side usually the “dark side”; unless the piece I’m working on has many intersecting seams — like a Leymone Star.

    Reply
  63. Jane Avatar
    Jane

    Depends on the pattern but I would say most of the time I press towards one side

    Reply
  64. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    I try to press to one side rather than open. I like to think here’s less pull on the seams.

    Reply
  65. carla bynum Avatar
    carla bynum

    HI!!!! So far I press to the dark fabric unless it is recommended otherwise for a particular pattern…Still learning though…so still open as far as seams go!!!!! Thanks for the fun give away!!!!!

    Reply
  66. sara Avatar
    sara

    Depends on my mood – but mostly to the one side or the other…

    nhsarab at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  67. Debbie Avatar
    Debbie

    I press my seams ti the dark side when piecing and press to the outer side when sewing border strips. If I have a lot of bulk at interlocking seams I cut one quarter inch on each side of seam to the thread line and press open.

    Reply
  68. tubakk Avatar
    tubakk

    I always press to one side, because it is stronger then. Sometimes when it is thick, I may press the seams open.

    Reply
  69. Margie Young Avatar
    Margie Young

    I usually press to one side unless there are alot of seams coming together then I will open them and press them.

    Reply
  70. Gene Black Avatar
    Gene Black

    I press to one side.
    A. I was taught that way
    B. It is easier -and I don’t burn myself.

    Reply
  71. Peggy Aronson Avatar
    Peggy Aronson

    I press to one side (toward the darker fabric) and then stitch to a piece with seams pressed the other way to cut down on bulk and help with accuracy.

    Reply
  72. Pauline F Avatar
    Pauline F

    If possible I press to the dark and I will press my seams open it they are to thick…thanks for the chance…going to vote now, happy stitching!!

    Reply
  73. Kathryn Knox Avatar
    Kathryn Knox

    Hi! I press to one side because I was taught to and that it makes the seams stronger.

    Reply
  74. Debbie Taylor Avatar
    Debbie Taylor

    I press to the dark side if possible. Because I was taught that way.

    Reply
  75. Suzanne Avatar
    Suzanne

    I press the seams to one side. I have a better chance at accurate piecing if I can nest the seams when joining blocks/rows.

    Reply
  76. Victoria Miner Avatar
    Victoria Miner

    I was taught to press to one side because it makes the seams stronger. I usually press to the dark.

    Reply
  77. Dorothy Matheson Avatar
    Dorothy Matheson

    I press to the side on most projects. It is how I learned. I also like the way seams nestle together with the seams to one side on one and the other side on the next piece.
    A few projects I press open. I do it with thin pieces for very small quilts.

    Reply
  78. Deb Avatar
    Deb

    I press to the side for quilts and press open for garments.

    Reply
  79. Judy C in NC Avatar
    Judy C in NC

    Still ironing to one side – except when pattern calls for

    Reply
  80. Judy C in NC Avatar
    Judy C in NC

    ironing open. I seem to have more trouble matching up when ironing open. Judy C thanks you.

    Reply
  81. Anita Avatar
    Anita

    If I want the fabric to lie very flat, for instance in a table runner, I press the seams flat. Otherwise, for instance in a bed quilt, I will press the seams to one side.

    Reply
  82. catherine etter Avatar
    catherine etter

    It depends more on the project. Most often to the side but if working with small pieces or intricate elements, I’ll manipulate the seams as needed……….

    Reply
  83. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    I press to one side, usually the darker side, except on very rare occasions. I believe it’s more secure. I’ve put together blocks from others with seams pressed open, and they seem loose & flimsy.

    Reply
  84. Reagan Avatar
    Reagan

    I press to the side as I was taught. I also like this method for lining up seams accurately since I can feel them lock against each other when rubbed as long as they are pressed in opposite directions.

    Reply
  85. usairdoll Avatar
    usairdoll

    I usually press seams to one side, however if I’m doing miniatures then pressing open sometimes helps the block to lay flat. I press to the side as it helps seams to be stronger, especially if stitching in the ditch when quilting.

    Thank you for a super giveaway and a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  86. Jacquelyn Morris-Smith Avatar
    Jacquelyn Morris-Smith

    for the most part I press to the dark, when that is not possible I still press to only one side. If I am doing a star formation I press everything in the same direction, when they are joined I then open the seams at the bottom and give a bit of twist with my thumb, which spreads them and there isn’t a big wad for me to quilt over.

    Reply
  87. Janet Best Avatar
    Janet Best

    I press to one side most often, but if I am piecing a block with lots of intersecting seams or bulk, I will press open to help the block lay flat. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    Reply
  88. Erin Hutchinson Avatar
    Erin Hutchinson

    I press to one side. Just recently, I completed a quilt with the seams pressed open, and I am scared to death that the seams won’t hold! Is that an unreasonable or unfounded fear?

    Reply
  89. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    I almost always press to one side. Will switch hit, to the light or dark depending on how best fits.

    Reply
  90. Lisa Marie Avatar
    Lisa Marie

    I usually press to one side. For many patterns this allows seams to nest which helps with matching.

    Reply
  91. Cindy L Avatar
    Cindy L

    I usually press to the side for the seams to “nest.” However, if I am working on a really small piece, then I usually press open. I do not like to say “never” or “always” because then an “oops” happens…

    Reply
  92. Fran Garris Avatar
    Fran Garris

    I press my seams to one side, I feel it strengthens the top.

    Reply
  93. Tammy Avatar
    Tammy

    I usually press my seams to one side. It seems to help me line pieces up correctly. And it was the first way I learned when quilting. So it just seams to be a automatic function these days.

    Reply
  94. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I press to the side.

    Reply
  95. Sallie Avatar
    Sallie

    to one side because that’s how I was taught.

    Reply
  96. robin Avatar
    robin

    Usually to one side.

    Reply
  97. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    The way I press seams depends on how many I have meeting in one place. If there are more than 2 seams meeting, I’ll press them open to keep the bulk in the seam line down. If there are only 2 seams, I press them to one side to nest them and get a better match on my seam lines.

    Reply
  98. Juanita Avatar
    Juanita

    I press the seams open.

    Reply
  99. Nancy Trowbridge Avatar
    Nancy Trowbridge

    I usually press to one side unless the pattern is better suited to do otherwise.

    Reply
  100. MoeWest Avatar
    MoeWest

    I usually press to one side but I have tried pressing seams open and use that method sometimes.

    Reply
  101. Nancy in Utah Avatar
    Nancy in Utah

    In my first quilting class, I was taught to always press to one side, however, after getting more experience, I have learned that pressing seams open give me a smoother appearance and my long arm quilters say that the seams are much easier to quilt because there is less bulk and when I expressed concern about the strength of the seams, I was reminded that after the project is quilted, there won’t be any stress on the seams. I do still find though, that there are times when I have to, or need to press to one side. So I use a combination of both methods and try to reduce the bulkiness of my seams.

    Reply
  102. Judy Avatar
    Judy

    I press to one side unless it’s going to be too bulky, then I press open.

    Reply
  103. Grace Shafer Avatar
    Grace Shafer

    I most often press to the dark side, because I like how the seams “nest” when joining pieces. It seem like less work too!

    Reply
  104. Becky T Avatar
    Becky T

    I usually press to the dark side but if it is a lot of seams coming into one point, I will press open.

    Reply
  105. Kim Cady Avatar
    Kim Cady

    I always press my seams open

    Reply
  106. Diane Plymale Avatar
    Diane Plymale

    I always press to the dark fabrics, because that is what I was told to do 26 years ago when I learned to quilt, and I always do what I am told (usually) :+) !

    Reply
  107. crystal stegall Avatar
    crystal stegall

    I ususally press mine to the side . It makes the seams nest and lay flatter. Thanks for the giveaway ! The sample is beautiful.

    Reply
  108. Kevyn Avatar
    Kevyn

    I almost always press to the dark side because that is how I was taught and it helps with nesting seams. However, I press open to avoid bulk when joining pieces for stars.

    Reply
  109. claire A Avatar
    claire A

    The short answer is Both. I used to always press to the side to eliminate some bearding of the batting; now that I don’t use poly fabric or batting, that isn’t a problem. I still find it easier to press to the side and like it for nesting when joining right angle seams. I do use open seams when I don’t know how it will be joining up because I am planning as I go.

    Reply
  110. Jane Avatar
    Jane

    Usually press to one side because that’s how I first learned. However, if I need to reduce bulk I’ll press them open. Just depends. Thanks!

    Reply
  111. nancyb Avatar
    nancyb

    I always pressed to one side because the quilt police years ago told me to. now I do so because I do think the seam is stronger but if its bulky I press open without hesitation. nancyb

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  112. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    I press to one side so the seams will nest.

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  113. Helen R Avatar
    Helen R

    I press toward the darkest fabric. Some exceptions are many seams and no seams, press away from many seams toward no seam. Lots of seams meeting and I will press open. I do not press open all the time, because I feel that the seam is not as strong and may be pulled apart during use. If your quilting is very small and close together, it probably doesn’t matter, but I tend to quilt in large motifs. In the end, do what makes you a happy quilter.

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  114. Betty H Avatar
    Betty H

    I press to one side because it makes the seam stronger and it is easier to quilt ‘in-the-ditch’. I don’t like pressing open because it is harder to match seams.

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  115. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Totally depends on how much bulk and how many cross seams. If it is little smaller then 2inch, I press open. If I am going to cut this a lot as in split pinwheels or 9 patches I press open, but if it is a simple 9 patch I don’t.

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  116. Margaret R Avatar
    Margaret R

    I press to one side unless there are a lot of seams and then I press open.

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  117. Amy the Canadian Avatar
    Amy the Canadian

    I usually press to the side so I can ‘lock’ the seams together to get perfect points/joins/seams. however, on some blocks I open the seams and press if there is a lot of bulk at intersections.

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  118. Nita Avatar
    Nita

    I press to the side … because I always burn my fingers trying to hold the seams open.

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  119. Rose Avatar
    Rose

    I am a beginner quilter so I press to one side. Usually that’s what the directions tell me to do and I’m still following directions very carefully, I wouldn’t want to mess up!

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  120. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Love the “clarice”. I have been collecting photos of this pottery to do the same type of quilt. Would love to know which fabric line has the Cliff color ways.

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  121. kathy Dunn Avatar
    kathy Dunn

    I press to one side when I have to match seams. I will press open if I have several points coming together.

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  122. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    I piece all my seams open. I like the look of a smooth top

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  123. Gillian Rapson Avatar
    Gillian Rapson

    Like so many others, I was taught to press to one side but occasionally it is necessary to open the seams for a neat appearance.

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  124. Betty Baerg Avatar
    Betty Baerg

    I press to one side (mostly to the dark side) because it seems to be a stronger hold and doesn’t show under the light side. I love joining seams that way and how it feels so smooth when you have the material in the right spot.

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  125. Hanke Avatar
    Hanke

    I press to one side, because my teacher told me 🙂 And when I press open it seems you see the stitches. And the seems are stronger.

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  126. Marie Delliazza Avatar
    Marie Delliazza

    I try to press to the dark, but when things get too bulky, I improvise and hope for the best.

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  127. Lise Avatar
    Lise

    I press on one side (dark) unless I’m making ex: pinwheel I press one part to one side then the other side opposite to open the center seams so it lays flat…

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  128. Karen Miller Avatar
    Karen Miller

    I only press open if I’m trying to reduce bulk. Otherwise I press to the side and normally toward the darker color. When you press open I feel you take a greater risk of exposing the theads. Thanks for the awesome contest this week. Love the sponsors, quilts and giveaway !

    Reply
  129. Cindy A. Avatar
    Cindy A.

    I press open if it makes the seams lie flatter. It also keeps for more even wear with two layers of fabric on each side of the seam.

    Reply
  130. Eileen Keane Avatar
    Eileen Keane

    I press my seams to one side, the darker side, so I don’t have shadowing.

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  131. Karrie Smith Avatar
    Karrie Smith

    I press my seams towards the dark side, because it seems to be a popular way to do it!

    Reply
  132. Tammy Pettus Avatar
    Tammy Pettus

    I press my seams to one side. The quilt is stronger and will last longer.

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  133. Trina Avatar
    Trina

    I press my seams wide open. But I’m new… 🙂

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  134. Patty Avatar
    Patty

    I was taught to press seams to one side and so far it has worked great for me. I like that I can match the seams better this way. There are times I will press seams open, such as doing a miniture quilt or one with lots of seams meeting at a single point.

    Reply
  135. Lizzie Avatar
    Lizzie

    To one side. That way your squares will “nest” and the quilt will be stronger overall.

    Reply

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