Quilt clappers
 

Has anyone tried these and if so do you like it and does it make a difference in your seams. Thank you Denise

Never used one. I almost always iron my seams to the side so that they nest when I join the blocks or pieces within the blocks. They are never totally flat, but that isn't a problem for me.

Tailor's clappers have been used for years to flatten seams. I used to use them often when I was doing tailoring. My suits always had beautiful shoulders that laid perfectly flat.

Love using it for garments sewing and when I first started quilting 25+ years ago I I was taught to open my seams so there I did use it and had perfectly flat seams. Sadly I loaned it to a friend who passed away and her family disposed of it!

I love mine, especially the square one. In addition to many of Bonnie's mysteries I do a lot of my own small scrap piecing and the clapper really helps get the blocks flat. The oblong one is good for flippy corners as well as longer seams.

You have to use a steam iron or spray bottle and dry iron. The hard wood holds the heat and flattens the seams; the longer you leave it on the flatter... usually about 10-15 seconds.

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Thanks AmyBible. I’m convinced to get one now.

I have the long one with handle. I took a precision piecing class and the instructor told us put the iron on a seam leave it there for at least 30 seconds, take off the iron and put a ruler the size of the piece on top, put a book on top of that and let is set for up to 10 min or more until completely cool. Of course she made national quilt show quilts and it showed.

I use a thick wood cutting board for big blocks.

I think this process is being repeated in the wool pressing sheets now popular.

I bought one, but it was delivered while I'm out of town. I'm looking forward to using it!

I was wondering also if anyone uses them in quilting! I've been researching them and had my DH make me one, but then his router broke and he wasn't able to make the grove in the sides (mine will be oblong) so it screeched to a halt. I'm going to nab it from his shop and start using it!

Love mine!

This is what I do too. Easiest way for me to make the intersections line up.

I used them on the seams of my last quilt and my longarmer mentioned how flat the seams were....so I guess they work as intended.

Additionally are the wooden strips to place the seam over and press. Can't think of what those are called but they are essentially a 1/2 round cut into desired lengths. I like that it keeps my seam straight while pressing open.

My DH made me one...I do like the way they work!

I've heard that they work very well. Here are some sites that show you how to make your own if you work with wood.

https://www.google.com/search?client...13.4hMpRJ9CjO0

These are called Strip sticks. I don't often press my seams open, but when I do I love how these help.
An Amish quilt shop did a demonstration of these for our sewing group when we took a bus trip to their shop.

Love mine. It works especially well with the wool pressing mat. Making strip sets lay flat is much easier with it.

I will need to look into this.

Letting it completely cool is important. It is what blocks the fiber.

THANK you very much for the info I will ask my son to make me one.

I just went over to my son in laws scrap wood pile and picked up a piece of 2x4 and cleaned it. Cost zero. Doesn't have routed sides but works just the same.

My husband is a woodworker. Does anyone have plans, or a resource, for making a clapper? I know I can google it but he asked if someone has found specific instructions that they like that a woodworker would use.... Thanks in advance.

The one my DH made is 8"long, 2.5" wide on one end, tapering to about 2" on the other, and 1.5 or so " high. The ends are rounded. As someone mentioned earlier, you could basically grab a hunk of wood out of his scrap pileand use it, but you would want it sanded nicely. Think about what size blocks you normally make and adjust the length accordingly. Mine is a little short, so I will have him make another that is about 12" long.

I do know the wood has to be certain type of wood, solid hard wood, no slivers, not pine. My DH does woodworking and said it costs about the same to make one as to buy one unless you already have the wood as scrap.

I use a clapper on my garments but its also great on seams in quilts. A little heat/steam put the clapper on for a few seconds and you have a flat seam. I get mine from Angela Wolf, she has a big one and a mini one.

was the instructor Sally Collins? Or maybe the instructor used her methods. I love her although as much as I try I will never do precision piecing. I have a clapper and a wool pressing mat and when I use the method you described things are very flat. I have also started pressing most seams open.

Yes it was Sally Collins. She sewed very slow on the machine. So slow you could count each stitch. I use some of her techniques but to use them all makes my sewing too boring.