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Barn Loft
Skill Builder
Fanning Seam Allowances Open
Fanning seam allowances open eliminates bulk at seam intersections where four square or rectangular patches meet. Try it when making Four Patches, Nine Patches, Irish Chain, or Barn Loft.
To practice, make a Four Patch from two fabrics. Press seam allowances for each half of the Four Patch toward the dark fabric (Fig. 1). With right sides facing, butt the seam allowances of the halves together and sew the final seam. Open the Four Patch and look at the back. With thumbs on both sides of the seam you just sewed, push allowances to the light fabric (one thumb is pushing up, the other down) and give the intersection a little twist (Fig. 2). It will only twist one way, so you may need to rotate the unit. The last few stitches will pop apart, and the intersection will fan open. Finger press, and then press with your iron (Fig. 3).
For Barn Loft, always press away from A's and C's so your intersections butt together and seam allowances will fan open.
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