Two Of My Most Favorite Things!

December 20, 2025

Merry Christmas!!!!

In keeping with the Christmas spirit I thought it might be appropriate to share two of my "favorite things" with all of you. I don't use these particular items all the time in my sewing room but I certainly use them a lot on particular projects. When I first heard of clappers, I thought this was just a gimmick and an unnecessary step that would just waste time. But after using them I have to admit they are worth the effort.

Two types of notions that will up your game when pressing and ironing blocks: the clapper and the wool pressing bar.

A clapper is a piece of unfinished hardwood that you lay on top of your seams after you press them and then allow them to cool underneath the clapper. The wood absorbs the steam and heat and makes the seam much flatter. The fabric will become "set" in the flattened position and create a nice neat, crisp block. Hardwood works better as over time the steam absorbed into the wood may make a softwood crack. Maple and cherry are often preferred but any hardwood will work. If you are just working with two pieces of cotton without any additional junctions or bulk you may not need the clapper, but they are extremely helpful when setting seams that have multiple layers meeting together (such as pinwheels or even the junction of a four patch.

Just compare these two blocks, the one on the left was just pressed with a steam setting but the one on the right was pressed with the steam and then a clapper was applied.

You can see how much flatter the one on the right has become after it sat beneath the clapper for a bit.

You can purchase clappers in multiple sizes. Often they are long and narrow but they also come in square shape blocks that will cover your entire block. They are usually a fairly thick cut and do seem to work better as the extra weight of the thicker wood applies more pressure.

If you want to make your own clappers you can buy hardwood at a hardware store and cut it into whatever size and shape you want. They don't have to be fancy to work, just make sure you are buying some type unfinished hardwood. This is just a piece leftover from a plank, it's not fancy but it works fine.

Some people even attach a knob to the top to make it easier to pick up.

Now, if you want to up the game another notch, you can invest in a wool pressing bar.

Most of these work as a combo effort. This is primarily used to press seams open, but then after you press them open you can lie them beneath the wooden section on the bottom like a clapper. Because the rounded surface is covered in wool it really helps to open up the seam even flatter than just pressing a seam open on a flat surface.

Just glide your iron across the open seam while the block is placed over the wool bar. Give it a shot of steam once you are all the way across.

Then you place the seam you just pressed open under the wooden base of the bar, or use your traditional clapper if you have more seams to press open.

Most times I don't press seams open but when I have a lot of layers coming together, or if I am working with extremely small pieces it does help to make your block lay flatter if you press the seams open. The wool pressing bar comes in very handy for those times and definitely gives a flatter seam.

You can see how much flatter the open seam lies in the fabric on the right which was pressed open on the wool pressing bar.

So.... are these two notions necessary? Not at all, but I sure find them helpful in certain applications. They are always on top of my work station ready for me to grab!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!!!!!!

Twila

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