:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Sounds like a version of a tailor's seam clapper. Wooden pressing sticks are also useful for narrow seams. Both of these items have been around the garment sewing industry for a long time.

I raided my husband's shed and used his rubber mallet (for laying paving). Just needed a quick clean up and it was good to go.

I always steam the seam first then pound gently. It does help before quilting; I hate those termite hills!

Oh, now! :) What would we do if we couldn't buy things we didn't ABSOLUTELY need? I'll bet you have a cell phone. We lived many, many years with ONE CORDED phone in the kitchen,without having to be in consant touch with everyone we know! We even had to get out of the car to open the garage ourselves instead of with the garage door opener. Do we NEED those things??? No, but they sure are nice to have! Same with sewing stuff.

When I first read this I thought "okay.......... But, when I think about it.. though I have never done this it does sound interesting in reference to paperpiecing stars and all their intersecting points I run into. I too have a wooden leathercraft hammer, and think I will also go raid my husbands shop and check out his rubber mallet and try them both. I do not use steam for paperpiecing it quite often will make the ink run so the hammer might help when there are many intersecting points.
Thanks for posting.

I took my first quilt class from the inventor of this, however; she used a regular hammer at that time. What was not mentioned is you must use steam to flatten those pesty intersections and pound into submission! P.S. No, I don't use the idea, actually I forgot all about it!

I've used it when sewing things out of wool or denim to flatten the seams. I think I learned that trick in high school home ec when we tailored a coat.

I love it ... just mad I didn't think of it first! Would also help get rid of frustrations when seams didn't match exactly as I wanted them to!

I borrowed one from a friend, who paid $15 for hers. (its called "The Wacker". You steam the seam, then pound, it really does work, but I agree, go to the hardware store.

For $29.95 + S&H :wink: I will sell you a metal thumb guard and hammer guide :lol::lol::lol:

The intent of the clapper/mallet/hand-twist is to loosen the thread weave at a seam. As noted in several of the replies, gentle steam helps. Of course, one should never pound hard enough to damage the fabric threads or the seam thread.

For the seriously cheap, take a 5-6 inch piece of 2x4, sand it well, and use the narrow side for your clapper. Handle is optional, although recommended if you do this a lot.

I saw this on one of the quilting shows that I watch. Later it did come in handy, kinda. I was making a pinwheel quilt and I used a hammer to flatten down the center. But to buy one. No Way!

I can just see my husband running in to see and the puzzled look on his face as to whether I was loosing it or what !!! :-)

No, but I did buy a seam roller @ the Knoxville Show and I love it. Priced at 10 dollars

If my husband saw me pounding on a quilt he'd say "now honey, don't you think it's time you took a little break and had a drink?"

I have had to pound some of my clients' multiple seams into something less of a lump. When I am quilting and hit one, it can deflect the needle and cause a lousy stitch. I use a plastic mallet meant for pounding out dents in your car - it was free! Of course, it would be easier if those pinwheel and star seams were pressed open...

Can't you see our grandmothers, great grand mothers etc, just looking down and laughing at us and thinksing we used scraps of clothing that was worn out and a needle, thread and a thimble. LOL

I learned that at LQS many years ago but with a regular small hammer. I keep that and a small wooden cutting board right near the sewing machine. It really works and I use the technique often but very gently.

Wasn't reading this very closely and I thought you were refering to pounding your body joints (knees, elbows, etc) ! LOL I have got to get some sleep!
Seriously, my family has called me 3 times in the last week in the middle of the night to go to the hospital. I think I'm getting slap happy. Definitely not getting any sewing done!

I thought the same thing the first time I read that post too. :lol: I decided that was one quilting tradition I didn't want to know about.

I USE A REGULAR HAMMER WHEN I HEM JEANS. THERE IS USUALLY A FLAT FELL SEAM THAT IS BULKY. I GIVE IT A COUPLE WHACKS AND THE NEEDLE GOES THRU SO MUCH EASIER AND DOES NOT BREAK LIKE IT WOULD BEFORE.

When I first saw this I was surprised then I realized that it makes sense. But if my DH ever saw that I was using a hammer on my quilting I think he would put me away for a nice quiet rest. So I will have to try it when he is not around. LOL

i saw those a few years ago i just do the twisty thing with my finger and it works everytime

I never could figure out where she clipped the seams.

I just have to jump in on this one. Katherine P, when I was doing alterations I would use a pair of pliers on the Jean hem to flatten the weld so it would be easier to sew. I think the pliers might work for the quilts too - no need to have something to hammer against. Amazing what tools you will find in the sewing room!

:mrgreen: You have a lot of patience. ;-)

Yes, pounding the seam will flatten it. Especially cotton. I learned this years ago when I had a decorating shop and it really did work on upholstery fabrics. Of course you can get carried away and distort the fabric so use discresion by checking it regularly while pounding. I keep a tack hammer in my sewing room.

Thanks for the tip about pounding the fat seams when hemming jeans. I have a lot of trouble getting my needle to go through that seam. I have a Jean-a-ma-jig and that helps some but I think pounding the seam will make my life easier.

I had a wooden clapper that I used many years ago when sewing clothes; but have no idea where it is today. Just might have to search for it.

In tailoring they don't use a mallet they use something called a clapper. And it works. If you have a particularly bumpy seam where you have a lot of joins, steam it and pound it or clap it and it will lay flatter. I have used it and it really does work.
Lucy

well i reckon one of them there hammers would come in handy..you know... because you could keep it by your machine and if someone touched anything of yours..BANG!! :lol: :lol:

What a good idea. The advertising could look like the old comics "Blam!" "Pow!" :thumbup:

I have seen those some where before. God bless. Penny