http://www.piecesbewithyou.com/patte...ker_detail.htm

Susan Cleveland spoke at our guild meeting Monday night and had a quilt she had used this with to make. You really could not feel any seam!

From the hardware store :-D

No. I do this instead:

http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com...lat-seams.html

I haven't tried that technique. Maybe with the mini quilt I am working on since it has a lot of tiny pieces and bulky seams.

Try it, you will be pleasantly surprised how flat they come out!

LOL, I'm going to watch this thread...
This tool looks like it could not only be helpful, but might be lots of fun too!

I use a Clapper (Tailor's press) on all my seams. It does make a big difference. An old flat iron will work great and a heavy bacon press will do the same job. You want something heavy that will absorb the heat from the fabric fast after you press the seam flat. The hammer flattening will eventually unflat if not pressed and sealed in place by removing the heat fast. The tailor's press wasn't used for the fun of it. It works.

hmmm, might have to raid DH's tool box LOL

hmmmm, I'm hand piecing the FWQ & this might work with those MANY tiny bulky seams...or at least make me feel better. I think I still have my son's old plastic hammer from...hmmm 20 years ago? I bet it would work. Every time I think to get it out & give to the grandsons...I put it right away & think "I'm not that stupid!"

I use this technique, also. It really does make a difference.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think we have a wooden mallet around here somewhere that I could use for that. I also have a tailor's clapper, also stored away somewhere. Should be able to locate one of them.

katier825...I do the same as you. As for the mallet....I think a person could pick up a rubber mallet from any hardware store for a lot less than $17!!!!

Patti

You can use a regular small nail hammer just put batting over the head of it. The heavier the hammer the better.

A little gentle stress relief as well!

I use this technique. Also, author Sally Collins (Mastering Precision Piecing and other titles) recommends heating seams with a flat iron, then placing the heated block under a weight such as a square quilter's ruler with something heavy on top of that and leaving all until the heat dissipates.

Love her disclaimer: ineffective on tummies, thighs, and buttocks)

rubber mallet at Harbor Fright $2.49

One of the gals I work with has one and she loves it. She got hers from a vendor at a quilt show when they first came out.

I use a rubber mallet on my quilts. It works great. But, there is no need to spend 17.00 on one. Check out the local hardware store. DH got one for me for 4.99.

Lowe's has then in different weights.

Oh, man!! I gotta go to Harbor Freight!! Everybody finds the greatest deals there!!

I keep a hammer in my studio just for this purpose. Have been using it for years and it works great. Just a plain ole regular hammer.

I have one of those mallets in my leather tooling area. Hummmn, and I wondered why tools and supplies migrated.

...definitely cheaper in a hardware store!

LOL - was thinking the exact thing. That's where I got my 45mm rotary blade - sold as carpet cutters - and cheap - and yes they work really great!

Dont have one, but the idea is very appealing.

Thanks for the clear illustration/tip....

At first I said, "Huh?" .... but then : I just went and tried it on my WIP .. I can see the difference it will make ..... again, THANKS ..

This "Huh? response was meant for greenfairy .... about the snipping of the three stitches at the corners of connecting pieces. It really does work for me...

LOL! There's probably one of those in my husband's tool box.....I may have to confiscate it!

I have one that I crack Crab Claws with!! Can't wait to try it on a quilt!! :) BTW, I also bookmarked the flat seams blog :) )

A soft mallet form Harbor Freight and a lot cheaper.

I saw one of these at a Quilt Show and wondered about it. DH said go to Lowe's and get a white rubber mallet and it will do the same. I did check at Lowe's and the white mallet was just $4.00. Quite a svings, but I haven't bought one yet. Seemed like a lot of pounding to me. LOL!

One of the first items my aunt gave me when I started to sew was a rubber mallet from th hardware store!! I use it to this day!

I laughed when I saw this makes me think I could get out a lot of fustration that I had making the quilt. Sounds interesting, I might have to try that.

Think it coould be a dangerous thing some days! Would be tempted to use it on my machine, sometimes! Not often, but I guess it woule only take once!

No need to pay $17 plus shipping for a rubber(plastic) mallet. You can get these at any discount hardware for $2.99!
D in TX

Ok - what is this and how does it work? This is all new to me! Thanks!

One caveat. Don't take a hammer to a quilt retreat. It's a bit disconcerting to other quilters to hear hammering! Personally, I don't care, but I have heard some very negative comments from other quilters when one woman was hammering away on her seams.

The hammer head made for the seams seem to be the perfect weight for seams and hands. And they are prettier. So don't dismiss them for the price before evaluating the difference. The difference may be worth the price.

me too 8-)