The trick for perfectly flat intersecting seams

When customers come into the Cottage and see our Around the Square pattern, the first thing they say is that there are so many seams in that checkerboard! And then the next thing they say is that they can never get their seams flat. But you CAN and here's a trick we show in our technique classes ... it works anytime you have two seams that intersect and is a great help for pinwheels. No one likes the bump and I really don't advocate pounding seams flat with a mallet. Not my style.

Imagine a four-patch block. Sew your two squares together and press to the dark. Place those units together ... nest the seams ... then sew them together. Ok ... now see those stitches above the intersecting seam from where you originally joined the two squares? There's just a few ... use a pin or your seam ripper to pull them out on both sides ... just to the seam line.

When you go to press the seam you should be able to press one seam one way and the other in the opposite direction ... the intersection will look like a tiny four-patch. If the seam doesn't open up completely, carefully pull out one or two stitches ... but only up to the seam line. Sometimes it takes a tiny bit of fussing to get it right.

Ta-da! No bumpy seams! You can use this trick all the time ... takes just a few extra minutes but is so worth it. If you bought our Right on Point kits at the Minnesota State Fair ... we used the same technique to get those seams just right. It doesn't matter if you're entering your quilts in a competition or just sewing a project as a gift ... it's so nice to have them look just right!

Comments

[Linda Carhill]

Did you use the faux binding on the octagons? My DD-I-L went to the MN State Fair and brought me home a Halloween Mat to work on. I wasn't able to make 2 mats as she said "the man" told her to tell me (maker error) but I loved the faux binding idea and had great fun making the mat!I did make a second one with different fabric for the triangles. Neat!

[Roseann]

Yes ... nothing better than fake binding! What we told people at the fair is that if they cut their squares and fabric for the triangle against the 9" piece of the fabric, they'd be able to get to tops and one finished project. There wasn't enough fabric in the kit to get the binding and backing for the second one so you needed to add that yourself. I'm glad you enjoyed making them ... I intended them to be quick holiday gifts.