Pressing seams to the darkest color

I am going to be making strip squares...where you take long strips of about 2" wide, of three different colors and sew long sides together, then rotary cut them into long strips of about 2" squares, instead of sewing 2" squres together individually.a

The theme is Strawberry Shortcake. The order they are in is red, white, pink polka dot, repeat. So as I press the seams to the darkest color...the red is pressed to the white and the white is pressed to the pink and the pink pressed to red, repeat. That means the red is pressed to the white and will show through. THe others being pressed to the darker color is fine. But to keep all seams the same way, I have to press the red toward the white side. And if I reverse it...the pink pressed to the white will also show through, as it is a darker pink.
So what do you do in this case? I don't want the dark showing through...but all seams must be going the same way.....

As a newbie to the quilting world I am not qualified to be advising you on this, however, if it were me, I think I'd be pressing to the dark anyway. I wouldn't be so concerned about all seams going in the same direction.

Look forward to seeing pics of your project. (I love that fabric you're using) :)

Someone with experience and knowledge will be sure to come along to help you out :)

If you're using good quality white fabric, the color from the dark shouldn't show through the white. Yes, the seam will be slightly noticeable as a shadow but you shouldn't see color through the white. If you are using good quality white fabric I'd be really surprised if you are actually seeing color through it. There are going to be times when pressing to the dark just isn't possible. When you're quilt is together and quilted those seams will not be noticed.

I agree with Sharon, just press to the dark.

It sounds to me like you're making 9-patch blocks. If so, the reason you should press to the dark is so the seams butt together so that your squares and/or blocks match up where they intersect with one another.

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Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing

If you're using good quality white fabric, the color from the dark shouldn't show through the white. Yes, the seam will be slightly noticeable as a shadow but you shouldn't see color through the white. If you are using good quality white fabric I'd be really surprised if you are actually seeing color through it. There are going to be times when pressing to the dark just isn't possible. When you're quilt is together and quilted those seams will not be noticed.

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I did say that wrong...yes you are right...I should have said the seam shows through, not the color. I am looking for white fab that will be thick enough to not show through..hard to find and still be affordable!

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Originally Posted by Sharon G

As a newbie to the quilting world I am not qualified to be advising you on this, however, if it were me, I think I'd be pressing to the dark anyway. I wouldn't be so concerned about all seams going in the same direction.

Look forward to seeing pics of your project. (I love that fabric you're using) :)

Someone with experience and knowledge will be sure to come along to help you out :)

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Sharon...I am a newbie to.. kind of. I haven't quilted in about 20years and just getting back into it. I am also just learning how to do the squares and triangles and all that. I am used to doing applique on blocks and sashing them together. That is my fav way to quilt! But I want to learn other ways too!

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Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing

It sounds to me like you're making 9-patch blocks. If so, the reason you should press to the dark is so the seams butt together so that your squares and/or blocks match up where they intersect with one another.

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Rebecca...I know that is why, but I did it that way and the "shadow" of the seam showed through on the white. I reversed the pink and red so the pink would be the one instead of the red since it is lighter. No color showed through, but did get that "shadow" of the seam was perfectly visable. That is what I don't want.

Jenny says press to the dark side. So even if the seams don't all go the same way, I do it her way. Also remember to not sew strips in the same direction or you get tweaking. Flip them.

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Originally Posted by BellasQuilts

Jenny says press to the dark side. So even if the seams don't all go the same way, I do it her way. Also remember to not sew strips in the same direction or you get tweaking. Flip them.

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BellasQuilts...thanks... yes I did hear about sewing strips and switching ways on each strip. I did do that. How's things in Solvang? i love that place we used to live in Buellton and I'd take my kids to Solvange every day after dad went to work and let them choose a sweet muffin or whatever they wanted and we'd go sit under a tree or something and have a nice little "picnic"! That town is so cool!

I don't understand what you mean by switching the direction of the strips when you sew them together. Can someone please explain that to me? My fabric is all solid colors if that makes a difference.

Illine

On your first strip you sew from point A to point B. On the next strip of fabric sewn to this group sew from point B to point A, or the end where you finished to the end where you started. Keeps your strip sets from bowing.