CraftyCarolyn

I attended a presentation yesterday on pressing.
I was amazed at how a clapper helps a seam stay flat.
The presenter demonstrated it on jean fabric (as if heming jeans)
with the side seam being so bulky, she steamed one seam and the other she
steamed and clapped. Wow. it was so much flatter.
That got me thinking about all the seams in my blocks that won't stay flat.

I asked my DH if he could make one...he says 'I'll put it on the list'
so, he says how about a hardwood mason float?
After a search a local 'big hardware store' has them for $6.
It doesnt have a point presser on one side but for quilting
I'm not sure I would need one.
I'll send him out today for a float and see how it works.

Happy sewing!

BellaBoo

I have a one. June Taylor use to sell them but they were discontinued. A clapper has been used for decades by tailors and dressmakers. It is used with steam for the best results. No one will believe how great it does work until they use one. I haven't seen any in stores at all. Here is a picture so if you ever find one at a thrift store or yard sale you'll know what it is. This site has one listed for sale: http://www.cuttinglinedesigns.com/home.aspx

BMP

I guess I dont understand how it works ???

Krisb

My brain is doing its own thing again. When I saw the thread title, the first thing in my mind was the clap on, clap off commercial that airs around Christmas. And I have a clapper, but never thought about using it for stubborn seams on quilts.

How you use it. The top area is like a very narrow wood ironing board for seams that are hard to get to. The pointed part is for points. The bottom compresses seams. You press, usually using steam, then set the clapper on the seam and push down to compress the seam are. Haven't used mine since I made my last suit.

sewgray

Haven't used mine since I quit sewing clothes. Maybe I need to get it back out.

sewwhat85

i have one and have used it alot but when i used to to alterations and was trying to flatten out jeans seams i some times used a hammer (dont tell anybody)

janiebakes

reported as spam

RedGarnet222

A clapper is indispensable to home sewers, but, I have used it many times with stubborn seams intersecting in the middle of a block wanting to pop up like a bubble. The clapper is placed and held down onto the backside of the fabric seam after heating it to the point that a scorch would occur if you leave it any longer. You lift the iron and place the clapper sharply onto the seam and hold a while to hold the heat in and set the flat seams in place. I personally love the smaller size of the clapper and I can't see using a float because that is foam. You need a non porus hard surface to hold it as flat as possible. I bet amazon or a good sewing store would sell them. I have had mine forever and I can't imagine being without a set of woolen sewing hams and a clapper.

Onebyone

We used one in high school home ec class. The boys in the shop class made clappers for us. Boys made them for family gifts. Looked liked a wooden anvil. Every mom had one that had a son in shop class. I use one a lot to get flat seams. The name clapper came from the loud clap sound made when the wood piece is slammed on the fabric. It's not made to be used gently.

Quiltwoman44

why spam? a wooden clapper is a real thing. quilters use them all the time. I've yet to get one though.