We've been talking recently about block accuracy and getting nice flat blocks when we sew. The object in the photo above is called a Wool Presser Bar, designed for pressing seams nice and flat. The grey part is made of wool, which is covering a block of rounded wood, which is mounted on a flat wooden base.
When you press your seams open on it, they seem to lie flatter and press easier and better. I bought mine at Fat Quarter Shop for $27. It is twelve inches long and works great for the size blocks I make and smaller block units. Once you press the seam open, you can use the device as a "clapper" and place it on top of your ironed seam to make it lie even flatter.
It came to my attention recently when watching a Lisa Bongean YouTube video, that she sells a similar (but much simpler device) that achieves just about the same results. Her seam pressing tool is called The Strip Stick and is much less expensive. Various sizes are offered from 8 to 45 inches and priced from around $10 to $20.
As you can see, this device is a lot less elaborate than the Wool Presser Bar and cannot be used as a clapper to further flatten the seam. However, if you want a cheaper version of a seam press tool, this could be for you.
This is a sewing tool I never knew I needed until I tried it! It makes pressing seams open a lot easier. Either version would achieve that result.
I finished 12 of my green churn dash blocks, and have 12 more to go. I did use my seam pressing devices to get the seams pressed open nice and flat. Lisa Bongean has a YouTube video up with a tutorial on how she makes these easy blocks.
Hope your week is going great! Temps are a lot cooler and we are enjoying the porches again.
8 Responses
Great tip about the strip stick.
I have both those tools. I bought the wool presser bar after your recommended it earlier on your blog and had the 18″ pressing stick given to me. Just this month my daughter and I visited a “new to us” quilt store where there was a new owner selling items from the previous owner at a deep discount. I got the 45″ pressing stick for $1. Bargain of the day and it’s great for pressing an entire row of a quilt.
I’m on a tight budget, so while searching for this new-to-me tool, I read a comment that a sleeve ham works well for pressing seams open. I never thought of that! I just brought home my mom’s sleeve ham and will now use it for quilting! Thanks for the post!
Anything to help press seams open is a winner in my book! Love your green churn dash blocks! Nice to hear you have cooler weather and are able to enjoy your porch time.
Thanks for always sharing your tips and tools that make things easier for quilters! I use a grill press that’s meant to smash and weight meat down onto a barbeque grill as my clapper and it works extremely well, too!
oh, my! that is an interesting tool. I find pressing seams open just tedious. what’s your trick to not get your fingers burnt? do you use another tool in the left hand while ironing with the right?
my open seams do NOT look as nice as yours.
Your green churn dash blocks will brighten up the quilt as well as making it your own. I like the wool presser bar idea! Thanks, as always, for sharing what tool works well for you!
I have used a sleeve roll from my tailoring days as a seam stick. Couldn’t find a clapper to cover an entire block, so I just slapped a magazine on it. I enjoy seeing all your progress on your projects.