Pressing workshop
 

I went to a pressing/ironing workshop today. I learned a lot of helpful tips. If you use steam always have the iron up to highest temp before turning the steam on. This stops a lot of the sputtering and spitting. Use a very firm surface with very thin padding to keep cut fabric from distorting. The Steady Betty pressing board is great for pressing quilt blocks. The demo was HST pressed with and without using the Steady Betty. The instructor had a very old one, not called Steady Betty then. Keep the iron on the fabric long enough for the heat to do the job, this makes the fabric very hot. Don't move it until it cools. Always use a clapper. The clapper instantly takes the heat from the fabric and keeps the memory of a flat seam in the fabric. There were all brands and types of irons used from new to old. Then we went to more dressmaking pressing using hams, pressing cloths and needle boards.

Thanks!

delma

What's a clapper? What's a Steady Betty? Apparently I have a few things to learn! Thanks in advance.

what an interesting class! thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the post. I was blessed to have a mom who was an expert seamstress and taught me all about pressing and how to use all sorts of pressing tools. I smiled when I read the line 'don't move it until it cools'. I hear my mom's voice saying that every time I press!

Interesting. I used to use a clapper when I did garment construction and it made a real difference but I never thought of using it when pressing quilt pieces. Thanks.

I'm with Nilla - what's a clapper (only one I know is "clap-on, clap-off")? Question: when setting a quilt seam, do you move the iron back and forth or hold it in place? steam or no steam?

Very interesting. I do worry about distorting the block. I, too do not know what a clapper is. ???

What a great class to have!
Your post seems to confirm what I have believed, and taught, all along.....it's not the steam that distorts, it's the presser.
Thanks for posting, BellaBoo. :)

Jan in VA

I Googled pressing clapper, so now I at least know what it is. Now, can you explain what the use is as related to quilting. If possible maybe even a picture or 2. I'm a visual learner so the pictures would really help. Thanks

Try 'how to quilt using a tailor clapper by Angela Wolf' this is a utube but can't copy and paste so I hope I have remembered it correctly. I did a google search pressing clapper for quilting and found some explanations.

What a great class to get to attend. Was it put on by your LQS or someplace else. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

I never use steam. If I need moisture I use a spray bottle.

The Steady Betty is a foam substance that grips fabric and does not melt when ironed. When you iron your blocks or patches, the fabric won't move or slide around. It comes in several different forms, such as a 14" x 14" board, or an ironing board cover. It works great and I like it, but it can get rather expensive. I've found that covering my ironing board with cotton duck works just as well. Having said that, I have purchased Steady Betty foam strips for my rulers. No more slipping while I'm cutting fabric. :)

Here is a site with a picture of a clapper on Amazon. I have a big one and a smaller one. An appliqué instructor also said a small block of wood that is clean and well sanded works just as well, except you don't have the handy handle for applying pressure. They really do work - they absorb the heat from the fabric. It's like magic!

http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Hand-In...essing+clapper

Checked out pressing clapper on YouTube and Amazon. Added it to my wish list. Thanks for the hints?

thanks for the photo link. I have seen these for years and years and never knew what they were for! Duhhhh! Why did I not ask? I just learned my new thing for today!

This workshop was at the Home Ext. office.

If you can find the foam back vinyl to cover a thin board (foam side out) it will work the same as the Steady Betty. No, nothing melts. The foam back vinyl use to be sold at most fabric shops for outdoor use. I haven't seen any in a long time in the stores. The Steady Betty is well made, two covered boards together. I used a 40% off coupon for Joanns online to buy the largest size. June Tailor use to make the smaller clapper but discontinued it. Golden Hands now makes the new ones with and without point presser. Nancy Notions sells them. If you find one at a yard sale, grab it. The older ones cost a fortune.

Thanks for the pic. I also have seen these and wondered what they were. Thanks for the post and all the tips. One more I heard the quilt teacher say the other day. We iron clothes,we press quilt blocks. I try to remember this now. Next time I see a clapper I will know what it is and buy one.

I learned something new!!

I've seen the clapper on tv and in the fabric shops. Like a round padded wooden block.

The clapper isn't padded, the wood needs to absorb the heat.

I came across this site, they have all kinds of pressing tools like the clapper and the silicone iron rest and the teflon applique sheet.

That's the same one I've had since college. I took one sewing course (requirement for Home Ec Education/Foods) where we were taught to use the clapper to set the creases in pants during construction. It does make a wonderfully sharp crease.

Would love to hear more details about the class. Was your class done by a representative of a company? This could be a nice program at our guild.

Once again, I learned something new. Thank you!! :)

I use a clapper when I am making spiral type blocks. I really makes a big difference. I have all of the hams and sleeve pressing tools. It is really something once you have you can't sew garments without.

Clapper on amazon, 41 dollars, nancys notions 16.95. There is a difference in shape.

That one sold on Amazon by that dealer is way over priced. They are sold at other online shops for much less. Look at this one:

http://maryjos.com/notions/notions-p...er-clapper-771

Thanks for sharing the information. It would never have occurred to me that I might need to take a pressing workshop! I learn something new every day on this board! I've probably seen vintage clappers in antique stores and had no idea what they were. It looks like something I need right now! How did this simple tool ever fade from common use? I've also never heard of a Steady Betty, which looks like another must-have. I have had a tailor's ham and seam roll forever.

Holy, moly. I've had one of those for years and had no idea of it's dollar VALUE. Guess I better put it to quilting use. Used it for garment sewing but haven't done that as much as quilting, of late. Thanks for the post.

My pressing board which I made myself is very accurate for pressing. The first one I made, I really padded it up with an old blanket and batting and this was a mistake because all that padding does cause your fabrics to stretch. Ask me how I know. I need to redo that one. The next one I made, I used a wooden board, a heavy duty plastic garbage bag (to wrap around the wood to keep moisture from getting to the wood and causing warping), one layer of warm and white batting and a piece of canvas as the top layer. I stapled each layer tightly to the wood. When I put the canvas on, I pulled it as tight as I could and my husband stapled it. I then sprayed the canvas with water and let it dry several times. It made the canvas shrink and pulled it really tight. I also made a muslin pillow case to some of the boards so if it got dirty or scorched I could either wash it or replace the light weight case cheaply. I figured this out when I sprayed my fabric with spray basting instead of starch. What a mess that was and I had to throw the fabric away. I found a half a sheet of plywood in the scrap wood section for only a few dollars at one of these places and I had them slice the board in half and then whack up the other piece into smaller pieces. It was 3-4 cuts and they did not charge me. I made these for my for friends and family. I looked at the pressing boards and they were so expensive I decided to make my own. I doubt I have $40 in all that I made. The cotton canvas was probably the most cost. It takes less than 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size. The homemade ones are probably not quite as pretty but they work just fine unless you put too much padding.

Bellaboo,
1. Do you have to press the clapper down onto the fabric or can you just let it sit there while it all cools off?
2. Is that foam backed vinyl the same thing you can make plastic tablecloths out of?
3. I don't have a Steady Betty but I use the duck cloth covering a layer of warm and white. Two layers was a little bit squishy. I also have the JT pressing board but mine is squishy and slippery and the measurements on it are for the birds.

Thanks much for the post!

RE:1. Do you have to press the clapper down onto the fabric or can you just let it sit there while it all cools off?

Also approximately how long do you have to leave it on the seam (assuming it's been heated up good first) before you can remove the clapper and proceed to another seam?