How to Create Perfect Nesting Quilt Seams

Recently, I have discovered the magic of nesting seams. As a beginner quilter, I have always been in the habit of pressing all of my seams open because it just seemed easier than trying to figure out which way to press the seam to get everything to match up.

One of my favorite tricks for achieving crisp and accurate points is to press my seams in a way that allows them to “nest.” Nesting seams are beginner-friendly one of my favorite tricks for getting crisp, flat seams that match up with ease. In this blog post, I show you how to create nested seams and give you some little tips along the way.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Pressing to the Side vs. Open

When it comes to pressing seams, there can be many different opinions. However, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Many modern quilt patterns come with specific pressing instructions to assist the quilter in getting the best results. Different ways of pressing seams each have their pros and cons. While open seams maintain a more accurate seam allowance and will help the seams of your quilt top lay flatter, having to press a lot of seams open can be very time-consuming.

Pressing seams to the side can reduce your time at the ironing board, but can make for a less accurate seam allowance and create a lot of bulk depending on how the seams meet up with each other. A side-pressed seam should also be pressed to the dark side to avoid a darker fabric showing through light or white squares.

Nesting your quilt seams, as I will show you below, can help achieve more perfect points and reduce the need for pinning. This method is a simple process but does require some foresight if the pressing instruction in your quilt pattern does not already include nested seams.

What are nested seams?

TThe term nesting seams refers to seams that have been pressed in opposite directions so that when the neighboring rows are placed right sides together, the sides of the seam butt up against one another like a puzzle piece.

How to Sew Nesting Seams

Press Seams in Opposite Directions

Step one to creating a nested seam is to make sure you’re pressing the seams of each row to the side and in the opposite directions. For example, if you are piecing a nine-patch block, the seams of the first row should be pressed up, the seams of the second row should be pressed down, and the third row should be pressed up again.

Line Up the Opposing Rows

Place the newly pressed rows right sides together so that the seams are pointed opposite ways. Line up the raw edges of the fabric pieces.

Next, slide the rows left or right slightly until the sides of the seams meet. You will be able to feel when the seams “lock” into place. You can pin it in place using straight pins, or fork pins, or just take it directly to your sewing machine.

Sew Together

Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, sew the rows together, making sure each nested seam has a tight fit before sewing across the seam intersections. You may need to adjust each seam a little bit before it goes under your presser foot.

Press Seam

Once sewn together, the new seam can then be pressed open or to the side. In the example below, you can see the vertical rows having seams that alternate directions (up, down, up, etc.,). The vertical seams are all pressed to the left so that they may next with the neighboring block.

My Favorite Tips for Perfect Pressed Seams

Press, Don’t Iron.

When It comes to pressing a seam, the most important thing you can do is to avoid dragging the iron across the fabric and seam. This can stretch fabrics and warp a seam. Moving the iron back and forth across the fabric is ironing. Lifting the iron and pressing it down onto a seam is pressing. It’s a subtle difference, but one that is very important.

Use a Wool Pressing Mat

A wool pressing mat is one of my favorite quilting tools. Wool is a natural insulator and will absorb the heat from the iron and release it back into the fabric. This essentially presses your seam from both sides simultaneously. Pretty nifty, huh? I use this one from Project Wool.

Use a Quilter’s Clapper

A quilter’s clapper (or tailor’s clapper) is a specially designed wooden block that is placed on top of a freshly pressed seam. The wooden clapper works by absorbing heat and moisture from the block and releasing it back into the fabric as it cools. This leaves you with an extra flat and crisp seam. Modern American Vintage makes some beautiful custom quilter’s clappers with high-quality woods.

Use a Quilting & Crafting Spray

A finishing spray, like this one, is an excellent way to release wrinkles and get seams extra flat. This works even better when used with a quilter’s clapper. This is because the moisture from the spray creates steam, which helps the wooden clapper work best. The Magic Quilting & Crafting Spray is fragrance-free, which I prefer over the heavily scented starches.