The Quilt Clapper
 

I have read remarks from quilters about how they love using a quilt clapper and how much it helps improve their seams. Looking for one on Amazon, there are several varieties. If you have one, can you please share the type or shape or something to help guide me. TIA.

I love the one I got from Jackson's Woodwork. They do sell them on Amazon in a 3 piece set. I've had mine for years and consider them one of my best investments.

I think I got the One Nancy zeaman used but got it in Amazon.

My husband made me one years ago, from heavy wood about 13 inches by 2.5 in. After about a year he put a large antique handle on top. I really like mine and use it all the time.

I have used one forever. My grandmother used it when she sewed clothes. It works by keeping the heat and steam in the fabric after pressing leaving the fabric in memory. The wood ones are usually made from maple so the steam and heat won't crack them over time. June Tailor use to make a nice one years ago. I haven't tried any of the newer ones.

I have never even heard of this before. It looks like this is a gadget to investigate more. It may become a new addition to my active supplies.

I don’t have, nor have I used a clapper. However, about 6 months ago I started using a wool pressing mat, and find it makes a huge difference to the quality of my pressed seams. I ended up buying a second one, to give me a bigger pressing surface. Just a thought.

I see Kimberly Jolly from Fat Quarter Shop use one on all of her video tutorials. She feels they sure make the seams flat.

Oh crap. Another notion to consider buying, hiding from husband, rediscovering it while tidying up. I think right now will pass. However I do have a pressing mat and just love it. Use it with my little craft iron and spray bottle. My trinity of pressing notions.

It is just called a clapper, and used by many sewists, and is not just for quilters.

I also have the Jackson set of clappers. If you chain piece, you will want more than one. They work best if you leave them on the seam until the fabric is cool. So I have 4!

I have been watching Alex Anderson on FB live M-W-F and she uses an old heavy cast Iron, the type that was first used by setting it on a wood stove to heat up. If you like antiques, you could satisfy two quests in one purchase https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/boy.gif

I just raided my son-in-law's scrap wood pile and picked out a piece of 2x4 that I use for a clapper.

Just wanted to say that if you don't want to have to purchase a new notion, you can use a stack of magazines instead. I always have magazines laying around and use them in stacks of 4-5 at a time. This is especially helpful if you're ironing multiple units or a long seam so you can flatten the entire seam with multiple stacks of magazines instead of having to have multiple clappers :)

A bacon press, flat iron, or anything heavy will work it you leave if on the fabric until cool. The wood clapper works much faster though. You clap in on the seam and leave it for about 30 seconds. Tailors didn't have time to wait, so they always used a wood clapper. I use the wool pad and clapper. My seams can't get any flatter. LOL

One of my guy quilter friends is also a woodworker and made them for the whole group last year. He also sells them I think for $40. He says you need to use maple wood but he layers a darker wood in the center for looks. I think it does help flatten the seams, but I must admit I don’t use it consistently. Some seams need more help than others. 😁

When I read the title I thought it was like......clap on, clap off, the clapper. I thought someone had finally made a sewing machine that would sew by itself once you clapped it on. Lol. 👏

Rofl. Too funny. (I thought the same thing!). 😲

LOL. You are so funny Julienm.

I have a pressing mat that is awesome but.... I wonder if it is worth using both a wool pressing mat AND a clapper? I've always wanted a nice, complete set from Jackson, for sewing clothes and quilting. So I wonder.....

This is what I use...I collected antique irons for many years and have a ton of them. They work great!

I purchased mine from TNT quilt boards...I believe they have two sizes. I purchased it it last year when doing BH Frolic and have it handy at my ironing station. Tntquiltboards.com

The Quilt Clapper
 

There have been times over the years when I have misplaced my clapper and used a clean piece of 2x4 wooden board. I usually use the board to hammer on those jeans buttons but it also works well on keeping seams flat.

I recently bought the Riley Blake clapper and it really does help. My seams/intersections really are flatter. I saw Kimberly Jolly use one - you may want to look over some of the videos from the Fat Quarter Shop for a demonstration. That is what sold me on the clapper.

I have an old tailor's clapper I got from Nancy's Notions many years ago, but this is a little different.

I have been using a hardback book, but it's becoming wearing to be grabbing it with thumb arthritis.

Is there a preferred weight or size that everyone likes?

I am thinking that if it had a handle, I could use my arm to lift it, and with a bit of weight, I could maybe avoid pressing down on it or at least less.

thanks,
charlotte