It may sound silly to newcomers, but pressing in quilting is serious business. Note that I say pressing rather than ironing, and no, they are not the same thing. Quilters’ families with piles of wrinkly clothes know that quilters like to press fabric and quilt blocks but are generally not inclined to iron. So what is the difference, and does it really matter? Pressing and ironing are two separate things, and yes, it really does matter. But first a bit of clarification of terminology since an “iron” is both a noun — the heated metal object — as well as a verb signifying the action of moving that object to “iron” a shirt. So, the iron-y is, you still need to use an iron to press.

Pressing Versus Ironing?

Pressing, as the name implies, is pressing or placing the iron on a piece of fabric or a quilt block and then lifting the iron and replacing it on another section of the fabric. Ironing is actively sliding the iron back and forth across the fabric. For precise patchwork, lift, place and press your iron rather than slide the iron. Pressing keeps fabric grain and blocks stable, while ironing can distort fabric grain and make your blocks and seams wonky. You should never attack your blocks with an iron or iron in a random manner. In fact, serious quilters plan their seams and include pressing instructions in their patterns.

Closed Versus Open Seams?

Pressing to the Dark Side?

The next big question is, should you press your block seams together to the side or open? As a general rule and for stability, it is good to press your seam allowances to one side. But first, it is a good practice to set your patchwork seams by pressing the sewn piece right sides together, then open the piece and press to the side. Which side? Generally, press toward the darker of the two fabrics. This helps prevent dark fabric from shadowing or showing through the light fabric. Some seams will need to be pressed to the light side. If so, check the seam and trim the dark if it is shadowing.

Side pressing often allows patchwork seams to nest or abut each other for more precise piecing. When multiple seams come together you may need to twist the intersecting seams open so they can lie flat (see photo). It is so fun to see a little pinwheel appear when you loosen the seam. Pressing to one side makes it easier to avoid sewing through seams when hand or machine quilting, especially stitch in the ditch. However, if there are a lot of seams and intersections in your top, you may need to press the major or long seams open so the quilt will lie flat. And if you will be machine quilting in an overall or free-motion design, open seams will make the process easier.

Last month I wrote about starting the year off right by learning to quilt or trying a different method of quilting. Stretching your brain with new and challenging techniques keeps your mind active. Why not use quilting to add art and beauty to your world? A fun challenge is creating miniature art pieces. Making mailable mini postcard quilts, aka “art to mail,” is a fun way to brighten your day and that of your friends. Yes, these are little quilty postcards that you can send to your family, friends, soldiers, veterans, etc.

Basic Supplies

The sky is the limit as to what techniques or supplies you can use, but here are the essentials. Like a quilt, your card needs three layers – patterned or decorative front (top), fusible stabilizer (middle), and fabric or cardstock (backing). You just need a few pieces of fabric for the front and a plain rectangle for the address (back side). Add some fusible interfacing or stabilizer to give the postcard support. Fast2Fuse, which has iron-on glue on both sides or something similar, works well. You can use a dense piece of batting and add fusible. A sewing machine and thread come in handy for piecing and quilting and for the securing the edges. The United States Post Office does have some regulations you need to follow for mailing. Your postcard should finish at 4 inches high and 6 inches wide and be no thicker than 1/8 inch.

Create A Design

You can sew a simple piecing design and then fuse it to the top, or you can sew directly onto the interfacing. Pick a pretty piece of fabric and just use that as your front. There are no rules (well, except for those USPS ones listed previously). You can add quilting or not, your choice. Since the front is fused to the center by ironing them together, quilting is not necessary, but it does add interest. If you are a quilter, grab a leftover block or part of a UFO (unfinished object) and use that rather than making something.

Challenge Yourself

Because the design space is small, it is the perfect place to experiment or test out new materials. Have you always wanted to try fabric painting? Give it a go. Or do you have a set of watercolor fabric crayons? I used mine to make an Edgar Allen Poe Raven postcard. Add embellishments or yarn couching or other mixed media. But remember if you have yarn or other items that could get caught in a mail sorting machine, it is best to send your card in an envelope.

Celebrate than by learning something new

We are starting a new year, and what better way to celebrate than by learning something new? If you have never sewn or quilted before, now is a great time to start. Quilting is a wonderful way to stretch your brain and your fingers (or sewing machine). If you have always wanted to learn to sew and quilt, there has never been a better time than now. Why? Because there is an amazing array of online resources available for the beginner quilter. New quilting YouTube videos and how-to tutorials are added every hour. New online classes and conferences are added weekly. The current powerhouse in the quilting world, The Missouri Star Quilt Co., was literally built on how-to videos. It started as one small store and now is an empire. The company has revitalized an entire town, region and industry.

Start Sewing

Don’t overthink – just do it! Too often, people worry about how to start or think they don’t know enough to begin. Remember, it is only fabric. They will make more. Everyone has to start somewhere. Even the most accomplished award-winning artists have humble first quilts. Buy some fabric and some basic tools and get started. Borrow a sewing machine or get a simple model used from a local sewing center. Or start with old-school handwork. If you are more comfortable learning in person, find a local beginning quilting class or an online live instruction class. Look for an area or regional quilt guild either in person or online. There are so many options: traditional, reproduction or modern are just a few styles to explore.

Learn New Skills

Learning new techniques is an awesome way to exercise your brain. Like doing crossword or Sudoku puzzles, trying out and mastering new sewing skills gives your mind an excellent workout. Learning and growing is a wonderful way to keep yourself young and active. You can create great art for your walls, snuggly quilts for your couch, or presents for your friends and family. You can make quilts to honor soldiers or help people in need. There are so many possibilities to share and contribute to the quilting world.

New Year, New Challenge

Though I’ve issued a challenge for new quilters, stretching your brain isn’t just for the beginning quilter. Even the most veteran and creative quilter can benefit from getting out of their comfort zone and exploring new methods.

Fabric is an essential component

A quilter without fabric is like an artist without paint or a carver without wood. Fabric is an essential component of making a quilt, and most quilters have a large stash on hand. Quilts get a great deal of their personality from the fabrics used in the piecing or applique. Using different colors or styles of fabric can totally change the pattern. Fabric colors and designs change constantly, and styles that are available one season are often gone in the next season, so a healthy reserve is important.

If you are new to quilting, you probably don’t know that there are a number of ways to buy fabric. I don’t mean buying online or in person (that is another story) but all the different units in which fabric is packaged and sold. To start with the basics: fabric is generally sold in yard units (36 inches by approximately 44 inches). Depending on your needs and the quilt store, you can purchase several yards or buy smaller cuts like half yards (18” x 44”) or quarter yards (9” x 44”) or even smaller cuts. This was the standard for years, but around the mid-1980s, quilt shops started selling a new cut called the fat quarter that measured 18” x 22”. This new wider and squarer cut was a more useable size for many projects than the standard quarter yard strip. It also allowed quilters to add more variety to their quilting projects while saving money with the smaller cut. One could now get a good-sized piece of fabric without buying a half yard or more. And buying more fabric and having more options is always a good thing. Retailers figured out that quilters loved the convenience of grabbing a pretty piece of already-cut fabric. They began cutting up fat quarters and creatively displaying them for impulse purchases. Coordinating fabrics were grouped or bundled together for more quick buying. No need to wait in line to have fabric cut; you could just grab a few and be on your way. This became a great way to sell fabric, especially at quilt shows or at fabric shops in tourist towns where people might stop in for just a few minutes.

Learning quilt history

​If you love antique quilts and learning quilt history, making a quilt for the American Quilt Study Group challenge would be perfect for you. Perhaps last month’s article about the AQSG 2021 Seminar caught your interest? Want to get involved in this great association focused on gathering and protecting quilt history? What better way to help preserve quilt history than by participating in this worthy project and recreating a piece of the past?

The 2023 Quilt Study has just been announced: “Nineteenth-Century Blues.” Details will be posted on americanquiltstudygroup.org Your inspiration quilt will be from the 1800s (1800 to 1899) and feature one or more of the wonderful blues from that century. Start looking for the perfect predominantly blue quilt to remake. You have until the summer of 2023 to create a small quilt based on the inspirational antique blue quilt. The size limit is 42 inches wide by 42 inches high (maximum), but it can be smaller.

First, find an inspiration quilt that fits the Quilt Study guidelines. If it is owned by you, then you can get started. If the quilt is part of a museum, historical society, or private collection, you will need to get permission to reproduce the quilt. The next step is to learn about the quilt. Who made it? Where and when it was made? What techniques were used? The Quilt Study motto could be, ‘Collecting quilt history one quilt at a time.’ You discover a quilt’s story while recreating it in small scale. It could be a bite-sized research project and an ideal way to get your feet wet in the study of antique quilts. Combining quilting and learning about your inspiration quilt works your sewing and research skills.

Eagle Quilt by Sandra Starley, 38” x 40”. 2021 AQSG Medallion Quilt Study based on 1840 Eagle Quilt in her collection. Part of the AQSG traveling exhibit. (photo courtesy of the author)