Learn why and how to press seams when sewing. This one thing will take your sewing projects to the next level!
Ironing vs Pressing
Do you know the difference between ironing and pressing fabric? Do you know why it’s important to press your fabric when sewing or quilting?
Well, let’s take a look at these questions and more as we strive to learn about the importance of pressing fabric in your sewing and quilting projects.
Ironing Fabric
When you iron, you apply pressure to the iron as you slide it across the fabric. This pressure helps to remove wrinkles.
But, this pressure and the sliding of the iron can also have some unwanted results. Unwanted results such as distorting the fabric, stretching the fabric, and generally causing it to be misshapen.
Now, let’s take a look at pressing fabric for comparison.
Pressing Fabric
Like I said, when you iron fabric, you are applying pressure to the iron and sliding it across the fabric. When you press fabric, you are applying gentle pressure, lifting the iron up, and placing it down on another spot of fabric to press.
It’s this lifting of the iron, applying gentle pressure, and intentional placement that makes all the difference.
By pressing instead of ironing, you can press seams flat, control the areas that are being pressed, set your stitches, and have professional looking seams.
How to Press Seams
Pressing seams will be slightly different depending on whether you are sewing a garment, bag, or piecing a quilt. But, the basic principles of pressing apply to both. Here’s how:
Tips for Pressing Seams
- Use a hot iron that is appropriately set at the correct temperature for the type of fabric you are sewing.
- It is best to press seams as they are sewn. This helps to set the stitches.
- Use steam when appropriate.
- For really flat seams, use a steam iron with a tailor’s clapper.
Press Seams
Learn how to press seams properly for professional looking results in all your sewing and quilting projects!
Tools
- iron
- ironing board
Instructions
- Lay the fabric wrong side up on your ironing board.
- Press the iron along the seam and on top of your stitches. This is called setting your stitches.
- Then lay the fabric out wrong side up, opening up the seam allowance with your fingers. Press with the iron, lifting and pressing as you go, all the way up the seam seam.
- Turn the fabric right side up and press again along the seam. Make sure you lift and press, lift and press as you move up the seam.
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Set Your Stitches
I talked earlier about how pressing helps to “set your stitches”. What did I mean by this? Well, when you apply heat and gentle pressure to your flat seam, it helps to meld the thread to the fabric. This in turn helps your seams to lay flatter.
If you don’t set your stitches, the stitches lay on top of the fabric creating bulk. This is especially important when you have several pieces of fabric intersecting, such as when piecing a quilt. But, don’t think that setting stitches is only for quilting. It’s just as important for garment sewing.
Set Stitches
Tools
- iron
- ironing board
Instructions
- After sewing a seam, take your project to the ironing board. With the seam laying flat (not open) press the seam with the iron, move and press in a different portion of the seam, if necessary.
- Then open the fabric and lay it wrong side up so that the seam is on top. Use your fingers to open the seam allowance. Then press the seam allowance open with the iron. Lift and press the next section of the seam. Repeat until the entire seam allowance is pressed open.
- Next turn the fabric over so the right side is facing up and press the seam again.
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Summary
It doesn’t matter if you are sewing apparel, a bag, home decor items, or even quilt blocks, pressing your seams is important. Likewise, setting the stitches is an important part of pressing your seams.
Remember, when you press your seams, you set the stitches so that they kind of meld with the fabric. This will help give your stitched project a more professional looking finish.
In fact, when it comes to quilting, I don’t know a single quilter who doesn’t consider pressing seams a very important part of the quilt making process.
As far as that goes, I don’t know anyone who sews apparel who doesn’t consider pressing seams a very important part of the apparel making process.
More Questions About Pressing Seams
If you have more questions about ironing or pressing, please be sure to leave them below in the comments.
And don’t forget to following along in the Learn to Sew series, if you aren’t already. If you’re interested in the Oliso Mini Project Iron, you can read more about it here.
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