Pressing

Pressing your seams is one of those small steps that makes a massive difference in the final look of your quilt. While we handle the inevitable creases that come from shipping or folding every day, the way your seams are pressed during construction is the foundation for a professional, flat finish on the longarm.

At Mane Line Quilting, our goal is to help your hard work shine. Here is our guide to pressing for longarm success.

A Pressing Guide

When we load your quilt onto the longarm, the machine’s foot glides just millimeters above the fabric. Properly pressed seams ensure that the foot moves smoothly without catching and that the quilting design isn’t distorted by “bubbles” or “puckers” in the fabric.

1. Press as You Go: The best way to ensure a flat quilt top is to press every single seam as you sew. Failing to press during construction can cause small distortions that “compound” as you add more blocks, eventually leading to a quilt top that won’t lay flat.

2. “Set” Your Seams: Before pressing your seam open or to the side, place your iron directly onto the stitched seam while it is still closed. This “sets” the thread into the fabric, making the final press much more crisp and flatter.

3. Open vs. Side Pressing: We often get asked which direction is best. At Mane Line Quilting, we are happy to work with either!

• Pressing to the Side: This is traditional and helps “nest” your seams for perfect points. It also makes the seams a bit stronger for heavy-use quilts.

• Pressing Open: This is excellent for reducing bulk, especially in blocks with many intersecting points.

4. The Final Press & Cool: Once your quilt top is completely finished, give it one final, thorough press from the front.

• Pro Tip: Let your quilt top cool completely on your pressing surface before folding it. Moving a “warm” quilt can actually introduce new distortions into the fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Do I need to worry about the fold lines from shipping?” Not at all! We expect those and they don’t bother the longarm. We are specifically looking for flat seams and intersections.

“What about steam?” Steam is great for getting stubborn seams to behave, but be careful not to “iron” (pushing the iron across the fabric), as this can stretch the bias and make your borders wavy. Instead, use a “pressing” motion—lifting the iron up and down.

“What if I have a hole in a seam?” While you are doing your final press, keep an eye out for any “popped” stitches or holes. It is much easier to fix these at your sewing machine now than it is once the quilt is already loaded on the longarm frame.

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