Press seams without stretching the fabric

Match the heat to the material

Read the fabric and care information before heating the iron. With unidentified scraps, begin at a lower setting on an inconspicuous sample. A press cloth can protect a surface, but it does not make excessive heat safe. Coatings, prints, and interfacing may respond differently from the main fabric.

Support the seam on a stable padded ironing surface. An unprotected table may not tolerate heat or moisture. Keep the work supported so its weight does not pull over the edge. A large pieced panel can distort when most of it hangs unsupported while a small section is being pressed.

Set the seam, then arrange the allowances

Lay the newly sewn seam as it came from the machine and press it briefly. Next, arrange the allowances open or together to one side, as the project requires. Position them with your fingers while the iron is safely parked, then press in sections.

Lift the iron to reposition it. BERNINA distinguishes this pressing movement from the sliding motion used to smooth an uncut length of fabric. Small cut pieces benefit from avoiding that extra drag. More pressure is not the goal; correctly arranged allowances beneath the iron matter more.

Allow the cloth to cool

Leave the piece flat before lifting or measuring it. Warm, slightly damp fibers can still shift. Pulling a corner immediately after pressing may distort an otherwise careful seam. Alternate between several pieces so each has time to rest while you work on another.

Use steam only when the fabric and other materials permit it. A dry setting may be easier to control with delicate interfacing or unfamiliar scraps. There is no single steam quantity suitable for every fabric. Stop if you see shine or a lasting pressure mark and return to the sample. A stretched seam cannot always be pressed fully back into shape. Correct the feeding or cutting problem before applying still more heat to the next piece.