Anyone using a Clapper?
 

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!

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
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/asset...g-tool2_lg.jpg

I guess I dont understand how it works ???

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.

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

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)

reported as spam

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.

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.

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

The spam post was removed.

I did go and check at amazon and they have them in all types of wood and configurations. I think the least expensive one was around $16.00. I made the mistake of looking at scissor sets. LOL! I bought a really nice set of four for my sister for a gift. Some people don't buy themselves nice tools to work with and they do make a big difference in the project and the way you feel while making something. This set had a nine inch sewing shears, a pair of snips, and two embroidery/paper cutting smalls. One of witch is a stork. It had all good reviews, so I am hoping it is a favored gift for her.
What do you get someone who has everything?? Something unusual, of course!

Ah! No wonder i didn't see anything odd. Good going.
Someone take pity on me and send me a clapper. i tend to buy things and then never use them so I am trying hard to be good and not buy anything more. I get by with what ever I have on hand. but sometimes things invented for one thing become miraculous on others.

Guessing there was a spam post bumping this 9 year old thread. The first post since 2012 says "spam reported", and it was likely a post just before that which they reported and was deleted.

I watch Lori Holt use one. I am wondering how well they work. I buy too many things that end up on a shelf and are never used.

The link you provided did not work. It had a 404 error. Would love to see this clapper.

https://www.google.com/search?q=june...h=474&dpr=1.25
has images of the June Tailor clapper. Tailor's clappers are still made in a variety of shape and sizes as seen at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tailors+c...s_ts-doa-p_2_5 and a video about using them in quilting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDKlt_M0_8c

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

There a lots of DIY instructions on how to make one yourself if you have a bandsaw (or jigsaw). They appear pretty easy to make. Here's instructions for a simple one.

https://www.instructables.com/How-to...ilors-Clapper/

I use my clapper for recalcitrant quilt seams, mostly when a lot come together. Sally Collins uses a ruler I think, with a weight on it until the fabric cools.

I have an extra clapper. Will send for postage to the first who replies.

I used to do a lot of garment construction and tailoring. I've used clapper for year now. It is really amazing what you can do with one. There are a lot of things at the hardware store that can be used for sewing. I've used the seam rollers that you use on wallpaper on my fabrics. It's like finger pressing on steroids.