I'm going to give my little hammer a try when my paper piecing seams get to bulky.Connie in CO

Neat idea :)

Me too! It works great where it is a it bulky. I used it just this last weekend! HF has different sizes.

Oh great buy...I have a malet and I use it all the time...it sure does flatten them ajoining seams...that was a great idea someone come up with...one smack and VIOLA!!!!

This is an old tailoring technique I was taught in college 50 years or so ago. We had a special wood block we hammered our seams with so they would lay flat when working with wool, etc. I think it is the same idea now being used with quilting. Makes sense!

Hehehehe I was thinking there might be times it would not be safe to let me loose with that little mallet.

To find a similar polyester hammer, check out Tandy's Leather website. They are used in leather tooling and work great. Don't use dark rubber hammers, will leave dark marks. The gray ones are okay.

Sandy Quilts.

We've been using a white rubber mallet in our upholstery shop forever for just this purpose.

I got a rubber mallet at Harbor Freight, too. It was less than three dollars.

I have used a mallet for a couple of years now, learned that trick at a quilting class...it works and is wonderful. I think if a person has a new, clean mallet that would work just as well as this new item.

Yes!! I also have one and have used it on OBW blocks for the center and yes it does work and doesn't leave any marks on the fabric. It even helps with those annoying days when you just want to hit something!! A friend got one and when she uses it her dogs go crazy thinking someone is knocking on the door but my dog ignores it. I think I got it when I took a class from Susan Cleveland and she demonstrated it. I have a wooden meat tenderizer but it doesn't work as well -she said it's something to do with the material the hammer is made of. All I know is that it does work and it happy hanging on my pegboard with all those crazy notions I collect.

I've got one, except the rubbery bit is black.

I bought a rubber-like headed mallet at the dollar store. Quite heavy so don't need to whack those unruly seams too, too hard. Works like a charm with a small wooden cutting board under the seam, and a piece of fabric on top of the area to be swatted. This eliminates any marking by the hammer head.
Fine tailoring has employed this system for ages....that's how they get those smooth seams. A wooden clapper works well on clothing, but can be pricey. I find it's easier to sew or quilt over flattened seams and never have trouble with needle breakage, but I don't use a long arm, so that may be the difference.

I haven't used my mallet for that as yet, but it looks just like the 2 mallets I have for Leather stamping. Maybe those who want to try it could compare prices in leathercraft.

And yes that hitting something always helps to get it off your chest unless you miss & hit your finger! :-P

Debs & Hemi

Got one at the dollar store........just saying'.....I use it for the seams on denim jeans, works great.

I have used a hammer for about 40 years with clothing construction. Last spring I found a cute little steel hammer at Home Depot. Its about 6" long with yellow trim on the handle. Worth every penny of the $5.00 I spent for it. The right tool makes the job easier and the finished product look so much better.

ok I got it figured out Just take that black mallet and cover it with a sock or make a cover for it and smack away

Looks like my wooden meat tenderizer but much smaller.

Looks like a great item for hushing quilt police, lol

my DH put one in my little tool box have not had to use it but I madk a bunch of pinwheels will have to try it

Buying any tool to make your quilting easier is a smart investment. After all, it makes the quilt better and better looking, IMHO. I don't have one, I've never seen one, but I will probably want one someday and so, thank you for introducing me to a new gizmo.

Cover the quilt area with a piece of fabric and bang away with any hammer or mallet.

Hey, smacking something that's a bother is always a good thing

:-D :-D :-D :-D

I've never heard of this!!

You genius

:lol:

saw this at a quilt show it works, friend has one, where can I order one for myself?

I have a quilting friend that when faced with a lump or unruley
seam, she first hits the offending place, then steams to daylights out of it, then puts a brick or stack of books on it until the next day. Works every time. I'v tried it a few times, too.

I used this once in a class and it worked great... later my friend told me she didn't think it was a good idea to "crush" the cotton fibers ... but boy I sure liked smacking those seams down... the back of my quilt looked incredible too... I am too nervous about crushing fibers now to use one.

an old trick in wool sewing. always use a fabric between the block & your hammer. otherwise, you will have a shiny spot where you hammered.

yes i do and i love it...works wonders on those twirly sections (4 point intersections)

I am not going to ask because I know and it brought a chuckle to my heart. Not laughing at you, but know I might have done the same thing. Bless you my child (LOL)

:thumbup: :thumbup: Here is another "agreeing with ya!!"
Kif

Well, in the 'olden days' we used to have wooden 'clappers' that did the same thing. It was a piece of unfinished wood that you 'clapped' down on top of steamed seams to reduce the bulk. (I think I still have mine somewhere ... I'll have to look. It was used a lot in tailoring.

I have used this method when hemming blue jeans. I use a regular hammer but always put another piece of fabric over the seam so I don't get the black from DH's hammer. The one you got will be a little more gentle and with regular fabric you don't need to put a big wallup in it just a few gentle taps.

Saw this at a quilt show a few years ago, bought a hammer at Menards with a small yellow acrylic head. works great especially for bulky points. flattens the seams nicely..

Do you do this on your ironing board or where? lol...would be afraid I might break the board. Now I have to order one of these..I love tools.

Hehehehe!!!!

you can also use a block of wood like a piece of two by four. put steam in the seam and whaack it with the blovk of wood.

you can also use a block of wood like a piece of two by four. put steam in the seam and whaack it with the block of wood.