Ever felt the frustration of bulky quilt block intersections that just won’t lie flat? Fear not, fellow quilter! The solution is here, and it’s as fun as it sounds: spinning your seams. Yes, you read that right—spinning! Let’s dive in and learn how to give your seams a twirl.
What Is Seam Spinning?
Seam spinning involves pressing seam allowances around a central point. This technique is particularly useful in blocks like four-patches or nine-patches, where multiple seams converge at a single point. By spinning the seams, you minimize bulk and achieve a flatter block.
How to Spin Your Seams
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Construct Your Block: Sew your block components together as usual. For example, in a four-patch block, join two pairs of squares to create two rectangles, then sew these rectangles together to form the block.
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Press Initial Seams: Press the seams of each pair to opposite sides. This ensures that when you join them, the seams will nest together, creating a precise intersection.
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Join the Pairs: Sew the two pairs together, aligning the nested seams carefully.
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Unpick a Few Stitches: On the back of the block, identify the center where the seams intersect. Using a seam ripper, gently unpick the few stitches within the seam allowance (not extending into the block itself) on both sides of the central seam.
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Press the Center Seam: By unpicking these stitches, you'll be able to press the seam allowances in a circular motion around the center point. This creates a small four-patch or pinwheel effect in the seam allowances.
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Final Press: Press the entire block flat, ensuring all seam allowances are lying smoothly in their respective directions.
For a visual demonstration of this technique, you can watch our tutorial below:
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