Absolute Easiest Way to Press Seams
Pressing is just as important as sewing! Sew, then press! Press each seam or construction detail before it is joined to another garment section.
- Pressing is different than ironing. In pressing, you lift the iron up and down. In ironing, you move the iron back and forth.
- Use a steam iron or cover the fabric with a damp press cloth, when pressing.
- Choose the correct iron temperature for your fabric.
- Press on the wrong side of the fabric.
Pressing Seams Stitched with a Conventional Sewing Machine
1. Press the seam flat. This evens out the stitches and makes it easier to press the seam open.
2. Press the seam open. Press over a seam roll to prevent the seam edges from making an imprint on the right side of the fabric.
Pressing a Serged Seam
1. Press a serged seam flat. 
2. Press the seam in one direction.
3. Place pieces of adding machine tape or copy paper between the seam and the garment, to prevent seam imprints from showing on the right side of the fabric.
Read more in The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew. Chapters include:
- Sewing Notions
- Sewing Machine Confidence
- Serger Spotlight
- Patterns
- Fabric Facts
- Sewing Basics
- Beyond the Basics
Watch The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew (Part One, Part Two, and Part Three) on Sewing With Nancy online.
Bye for now,
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Jan Murry
Putting tape or paper under seamed edge so seam doesn’t show through!
Patsy M
There is a wonderful product to keep the hot iron from burning your fingers. I sew with “Threads of Love”, making tiny to newborn size burial gowns for families in their time of need.
As you can imagine, pressing tiny seams does burn fingers. It is called “Thermal Thimbles”. (and Nancy’s Notions sells it!)
They really help!
Susan Spiers
Pressing with a damp cloth-nice crisp seams! great tip!
Lynda A.
I have always used men’s white handkerchiefs as press cloths. They are a good size to use and they protect the fabric from scorching.
Florence Dupuis
Using paper under the seams when pressing so as not to leave an impression.
Candice
Thanks for the refresher! I never knew about the paper under a serged seam, so that is my new, favorite tip!! I will be implementing that immediately.
Linda E in AZ
I am a quilter and always wash fabrics after I buy them. I also iron those washed fabrics before putting them away in my cabinet so that they will just need a quick press before cutting.
thanks for your tips!
Eva Hada
I like to use steam. Sometimes I use a damp cloth but seems like the steam works best.
Helen
My philosophy has always been that correct pressing makes the difference between homemade and handmade. I learned correct pressing techniques from Nancy Z. MANY years ago!
Cyndy from the Funny Farm
When working with bias edges, I recently learned to use a wooden iron (I actually use a plastic one made by Clover) to pre-press seams open before steam pressing. Helps prevent distortion by over pressing or tugging plus helps avoid steam burns on you fingers. This comes from quilting maven, Eleanor Burns. ☺
Helen Disenhaus
Use the cotrect s8de of a pressing ham to match your fabric.
Estelle
Pressing over a seam roll is a great tip. It’s amazing what a difference it makes in the outcome.
Lynda M
I use two different irons, one for pressing/ironing and one for fusing interfacing so I do not get interfacing on my “good” iron.
Cheryl
Somewhere I read about using a wooden dowel to press seams in quilt blocks and it seems like a good tip but I haven’t tried it as I have yet to purchase a dowel.
Starla
Pressing seams and ironing fabric make so much difference in the finished product. I only wish I had the room, and the electrical outlet, to allow me to have an iron set up next to my sewing machine!
Bonnye
I use old sheets for my press cloth. I cut them different sizes, i.e. A long one for pants or skirts, shorter ones for blouses, even small ones for quilt blocks.
Peggy V
Using a pressing cloth is my best tip!!! Would love to win you book!!!
carol skilling
My favorite pressing item is a length of material for sewing velvet. A friend gave it to me and I love it for everything.
carol skilling
My favorite pressing item is a length of material for sewing velvet. A friend gave it to me and I love it for everything.
Carol Skilling
Nancy
The secret to sewing is pressing! That’s what my aunt always told me.
Ann Marie Oblas
When I first started to quilt, I really didn’t think that pressing was that important to the process. Over the last five years I have learned just how important pressing is to set seams, press to t he correct side, press in between assembled rows, press before measuring for borders,etc. It’s made me a better quilter!
E. Ann
Pressing makes all the difference in garment sewing. I use clean old t-shirt bottoms ( below sleeves) for my pressing cloths. Would love to win the book. Thanks for the info!!
Margaret C.
My best tip for pressing comes in the form of a piece of advice. The average body should get up and down 35 times a day. Many quilters favor the convenience of pressing within the environs of the sewing machine. Get up and press. Sitting is the new smoking.
Julie Lyon
Always good to be reminded about the basics. Although I never heard about ‘setting the seam’ until very recently. I’m an old sewer but there’s still lots to learn.
Joyce
Pressing is the time where you complete your seam. Look at it, make sure any loose threads are trimmed, and the seam is evenly stitched. This is time to make final adjustments. Then, use a pressing cloth and slip paper under edges of seam to not show any markings. Once you’ve done this to all your seams, your project will need nothing else! Credit goes to My eighth grade home economics teacher, Mrs. Hummer, 55 years ago)
Jade
I use a “steady Betty” when pressing seams of quilt blocks and a wooden “clapper” , both assure the blocks stay square and the seams stay flat.
Linda Rupe
I’m sure this is one of your tips: put the pressing station away from the sewing station! Get up. Walk. It’s good for us to be up and down!
Marty
Best tip: understand “pressing” vs. “ironing”!
Wendy Engelmann
ZI just learned how to press seams to set them. I am a new quilter so I am interested in learning anything new to enhance my quilting.
Wendy Engelmann
I just learned how to press seams to set them. I am a new quilter so I am interested in learning anything new to enhance my quilting.
Wendy Engelmann
I am a new quilter. I just learned how to press seams to set the stitches. I am interested in learning anything to enhance my quilting skills.
Gail Beam
I had never heard about putting paper or tape between a serged seam and the garment. Thanks for the great tip.
Diane
Thanks for the tip on putting paper under the serged seam – love that! I think my favorite pressing tip is to use a clapper to make nice seams.
Michelle Hall
I have used a tightly rolled up bath towel as a makeshift seam roll when I couldn’t find mine or it didn’t fit the area I was trying to press
Karen
I use a piece of silk organza for a press cloth and also a 4 foot long seam stick for pressing seams over.
Mary Grace Ronan
I love pressing flat then pressing to one side or the other.
Clovis
I just use a pressing cloth and my seam roll to press.
Jan Morton
I loved the tips for pressing the serged seam and of course the basic difference between ironing and pressing! Thank you Nancy!
OrahLee Hoose
My favorite tip for pressing is to use a rolled up towel or magazine when on a trip to press suit sleeves. And recently I have been finally convinced that using enough steam and a clapper is THE way to make the seam really flat.Took me long enough, I’ve been sewing for 60 years!
Pam
Now I know what to do with the rolls of adding machine paper I have laying around! Thank-you
Thunder
Press, Lift, Press… Lift…. repeat. Lots of steam.
Twyla Johnson
Sew, then press. Using a pressing cloth is a great tip.
Vivian
Place pieces of adding machine tape or copy paper between the seam and the garment, to prevent seam imprints from showing on the right side of the fabric.
Donna Fecteau
I like the using a piece of adding machine or copy paper to press a serged seam!!! Love it.
Gerry
Love the idea of paper under serged seams. My favorite tip is using a 1-2 inch doll rod or a paint stirer/stick to press open sean on apron ties and other narrow tube like pieces before pressing them flat. I keep both handy near my ironing board. My husband created a point at one end of the paint stirer/stick to aid in pushing out corners of long apron ties. Works like a charm!
Judi Jaksa
When pressing small round bags recently, I dusted off my sleeve board to press the seam on the side of a small circular piece of fabric. It made the pressing so much easier.
Alma Croix
I”very learned something about pressing while making quilts. I will have to get my sewing ham out and start using it!
Thanks for all the good himts!
Linda M.
I keep an extra pair of snips by the ironing board so that I can trim off thread ends or anything else that needs “cleaned” up as I press.
Elaine Little
I place a surge protector with a long cord on the right side of the ironing board where the iron rests. I plug the iron into it. This makes the usable cord on the iron much longer rather than directly placing in the electrical outlet. This makes such a difference in reaching to the smaller end of the ironing board.
Linda Foote
Press as you sew is the most important part of a sewing project. I starting setting the seams when you showed it on one of your shows years ago and it made a huge difference in the look of my garments. Pressing makes your garment look more professional and drape correctly. I also got a lot of useful tips from the comments of others on this blog. Love your show.
Clovis
I set the seams and use a pressing cloth.