Pressing Matters

Pressing is an important part of paper piecing and done correctly will help to insure a more satisfactory quilt. Here are some suggestions to follow:

• Use a hot dry iron. Steam will make the foundation paper curl.
• Place a piece of muslin on your ironing board to protect it from ink that may come off the foundations when pressing.
• Always press with the paper side down on your ironing board. If you press on the paper side, ink will be transferred to the iron and then onto your fabric leaving black smudges.
• The traditional way to press is always to the dark side. With paper piecing you will not be able to always follow this rule. Always press the seams to one side. Pressing this way adds strength to your quilt and helps to distribute the bulk. This is very important especially when working with flannel.

Have you ever run into a pressing problem when working with foundation (paper) piecing? Leave a comment below describing it, and we'll reply with any suggestions we have for a solution.

Happy pressing!