I never needed to buy a mini ironing board. I have my child's toy ironing board from he 1960's! I love it. It is just the right height for sitting beside me at the sewing machine.
I have been tailoring for many years and we used a ,” clapper” and we didn’t whack it on a seam,after steaming the seam we just held the clapper on the seam until cool, no need to whack it.
Nita Hearn FWIW I briefly studied under a couturier and the only time we actually clapped the fabric down was to set the crease in pants. He said this was done to actually break down the fibre for a permanent crease.
What a wonderful youtube channel. Just started using my (cheap) overlocker and your video has been so helpful. Loving this channel and have already bought the gadget to mark buttonholes. A very professional video.
That button hole spacer is a cross over from the baking and pastry kitchen. Instead of slots for marking button hold there would be a cutting wheels for cutting puff pastry dough into strips.
Fabby blouse. I keep saying "I want one of those! " I am glad that I kept checking back to see how you were getting on. I The holiday season showed that this was a channel worth watching; loved the sequin cutting advice. Birdy
I def need the small iron, our house is teeny tiny and it is such a nightmare getting the ironing board out, then the iron and it takes up all the space in the room yada yada, oooh and the needle threader! So I haven't been wearing my glasses unless trying to read product labels with tiny print BUT having started sewing I can't see the holes in the needle even with glasses on and to make things harder I have quite a full on essential tremor so i shove that thread here there everywhere, except where it needs to go LOL Poor hubby is my slave when it comes to threading (and chopping veg etc lol)
Thank you so much for sharing and presenting so well. I fear my finances are now going to take a hammering, oh well, worse things to spend my pennies on I suppose. 😁😁😁😁
Have become a subscriber as I am quite new to sewing and your video and your presentation have inspired me even more to sew thank you very much and happy sewing love Doreen
You don't have to slam the clapper on the seam. Just place it on the seam you've just steam ironed. The steam goes into the hardwood just by having it placed on the steamed area right away. I would think slamming it might damage the top of the clapper. I love that the corner ironing tool is connected to the clapper. I've only seen them as separate purchases. Being able to get both in one item is great. Thanks for sharing. Gale
Gale Memee of I was taught by a woman who was trained by the tailor and cutter of London she showed me how to use a clapper, you're supposed to use it with wool fabric to bash out the bulk, you probably wouldn't need to use it on fine fabric.
When I use my clapper I just press down hard for a few seconds then go onto the next spot. However, I've found pressing down while "wiggling" it side-to-side a little bit, over cotton bias tape, helps make the multiple layer creases crisper than just pressing down.
Just FYI, Prim also makes a mini-iron-rest that is just the right size for the small iron. I already had the large iron rest, so use for both my irons, as I only ever have one on at a time, but if you are traveling to workshops with the mini-iron, the mini-iron-rest may be a good investment.
The clapper is great and gives really flat seams. It doesn’t make any difference whether you whack it or just quietly hold it down. I like the two point presser separate so I can use both sides of the clapper if I’m pressing a lot. A travel iron with a steam feature is much, much cheaper than these irons. The mii ironing board, known as a Sleeve Board is great. The iron mat looks great and so is the pressing aid for saving time - I must get these. Thank you for this video as we all need to keep up to date.
You have a very nice way of explaining. I'm too scared to sew actual garments! My finishing skills...well, the cat could hem better than I can. But I love fabrics and making things for the house, and making "stuff" like eyeglass cases and pillow covers, and curtains for that odd-size window(just don't look at how crooked I hung the rod, to make the bottom hem look even. Then I hid the rod with a valance.)
Oh thank you so much, it is the Sew Over It pussy bow blouse, you can find it here www.sewessential.co.uk/pussy-bow-blouse-sew-over-it-pattern it is a brilliant and easy to sew pattern. To sew a top with buttons on the side seams if you wanted them to actually fasten you would need to add a placket.
I'm pretty sure my next purchase will be a Simflex gauge. Looks sturdy. A thought for lefties... Using my sister's iron, I found that the cord coming out on the side instead of center back made left handed pressing a bit annoying.
That’s a beautiful version of the Sew Over It Pussy Bow Blouse! I love your fabric choice! Is it a viscose challis? I have prepped my pattern pieces for this blouse yesterday, but still waiting for my fabric to arrive. Apart from the mini iron and needle threader I have all the recommended tools in this video and indeed they are very useful.
What a coincidence! I had just finished watching this vid and about to comment I can’t wait for my tailor clapper to arrive, when the door knocked delivering my sew essential order! I am so pleased with it, can’t wait to make a shirt now! Thanks Lucy! ...feel like I need to order some silk organza now :)
Wonderful gadgets! Apologies if I missed it in your video but another gadget I favor is a pressing ham for curved seams. I have some form of all the others you mention except for the Simflex Gauge. I'm a cheapskate and keep looking for a bargain price. I make quilts as well as clothing and the Simflex would help me put evenly-spaced scallops on them, something I've never been able to do successfully . Pattern weights are great - I like to use them with knits. I lay down the pattern piece, pop on the weights and cut with a rotary cutter. It's quick and gives me a better result than scissors. I prefer to make them myself so I send my hubby to the hardware store for fender washers, the thickest & heaviest he can find; they're very inexpensive. (There's that cheapskate thing again) I hot glue and stack a few of them together, "eyeball" and cut a circular piece of scrap fabric with pinking shears, gather it up and tie with a piece of button and carpet thread so there's about an inch of fabric sticking up (similar to a pumpkin with a stem). It takes only moments and you have a pattern weight with it's own handle! I keep having to make more because I'm constantly finding myself giving a few of them away to someone who'd love to try them. Thanks for all the terrific tips and hints you share!
I can see the use of a simflex for buttonholes, but as an experienced smocker, I cannot think of where I would use it there. I'd be interested to know what I'm missing on that one.
I recently moved and somehow my very old Simflex disappeared. After purchasing a new one I was disappointed in the reduced quality of the new one. It is much thinner metal, and quite rough around the edges. I have been carefully sanding the edges.
I am confused is she saying the point press clapper is new? Cause remember playing with my Mom's clapper when I was a kid in fact I broke it pretending it was an ice skate over 40 years ago.
Hi Rebecca, no we're not saying the point press clapper is a new invention we are saying it is new to our site. You are quite right it is a long standing, traditional tool, which is why we're so happy to stock it - anything that stands the test of time is a useful investment!
Hi Peg, thank you for the lovely feedback. Here is a link to the silk organza pressing cloth www.sewessential.co.uk/ivory-silk-organza you can buy half a metre and the price showing is per metre. Here is a link to all of our pressing aids www.sewessential.co.uk/sewing-tools-and-gadgets/garment-construction/pressing-aids
SimFlex buttonhole marker is not new; it's just making a comeback. Great tool, but always overpriced for some odd reason. After all, it is manufactured for pennies on the dollar. Nice video, however.
I never needed to buy a mini ironing board. I have my child's toy ironing board from he 1960's! I love it. It is just the right height for sitting beside me at the sewing machine.
You’re lovely, articulate and thorough. I appreciate your enthusiasm and information. Thank you!
Ah thank you so much Vicki, that's really kind of you and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Many thanks for sharing all of your Hints N Tips 😃😃😃💐💐💐
I have been tailoring for many years and we used a ,” clapper” and we didn’t whack it on a seam,after steaming the seam we just held the clapper on the seam until cool, no need to whack it.
Nita Hearn FWIW I briefly studied under a couturier and the only time we actually clapped the fabric down was to set the crease in pants. He said this was done to actually break down the fibre for a permanent crease.
What a wonderful youtube channel. Just started using my (cheap) overlocker and your video has been so helpful. Loving this channel and have already bought the gadget to mark buttonholes. A very professional video.
That button hole spacer is a cross over from the baking and pastry kitchen. Instead of slots for marking button hold there would be a cutting wheels for cutting puff pastry dough into strips.
I love your blouse.Thank you for showing the tools and how to use them,it was really helpful.
Fabby blouse. I keep saying "I want one of those! " I am glad that I kept checking back to see how you were getting on. I
The holiday season showed that this was a channel worth watching; loved the sequin cutting advice.
Birdy
I love your calm approach!
I def need the small iron, our house is teeny tiny and it is such a nightmare getting the ironing board out, then the iron and it takes up all the space in the room yada yada, oooh and the needle threader! So I haven't been wearing my glasses unless trying to read product labels with tiny print BUT having started sewing I can't see the holes in the needle even with glasses on and to make things harder I have quite a full on essential tremor so i shove that thread here there everywhere, except where it needs to go LOL Poor hubby is my slave when it comes to threading (and chopping veg etc lol)
Lovely products and your top looks beautiful on you 😍😘
Thank you so much Sally, I am quite in love with it!
Thank you for sharing lots of amazing tips of yours. It has improved my sewing skills no end. Look forward to learning more. 🙂
Fabulous! I'm sorted for my Christmas list. Such thorough explanations as well!
So glad you liked it and found it useful Lynne.
Thank you so much for sharing and presenting so well. I fear my finances are now going to take a hammering, oh well, worse things to spend my pennies on I suppose. 😁😁😁😁
Have become a subscriber as I am quite new to sewing and your video and your presentation have inspired me even more to sew thank you very much and happy sewing love Doreen
You don't have to slam the clapper on the seam. Just place it on the seam you've just steam ironed. The steam goes into the hardwood just by having it placed on the steamed area right away. I would think slamming it might damage the top of the clapper. I love that the corner ironing tool is connected to the clapper. I've only seen them as separate purchases. Being able to get both in one item is great. Thanks for sharing. Gale
Gale Memee of 6 I was just thinking the same. No need to bang the clapper down.
Gale Memee of I was taught by a woman who was trained by the tailor and cutter of London she showed me how to use a clapper, you're supposed to use it with wool fabric to bash out the bulk, you probably wouldn't need to use it on fine fabric.
When I use my clapper I just press down hard for a few seconds then go onto the next spot. However, I've found pressing down while "wiggling" it side-to-side a little bit, over cotton bias tape, helps make the multiple layer creases crisper than just pressing down.
Food
Just FYI, Prim also makes a mini-iron-rest that is just the right size for the small iron. I already had the large iron rest, so use for both my irons, as I only ever have one on at a time, but if you are traveling to workshops with the mini-iron, the mini-iron-rest may be a good investment.
It does and we now stock those too, thanks for sharing
Great produces looking forward to buying some I've started a list.
Thanks Julia, glad you liked them.
The clapper is great and gives really flat seams. It doesn’t make any difference whether you whack it or just quietly hold it down. I like the two point presser separate so I can use both sides of the clapper if I’m pressing a lot.
A travel iron with a steam feature is much, much cheaper than these irons.
The mii ironing board, known as a Sleeve Board is great.
The iron mat looks great and so is the pressing aid for saving time - I must get these.
Thank you for this video as we all need to keep up to date.
Really good tools
You have a very nice way of explaining. I'm too scared to sew actual garments! My finishing skills...well, the cat could hem better than I can. But I love fabrics and making things for the house, and making "stuff" like eyeglass cases and pillow covers, and curtains for that odd-size window(just don't look at how crooked I hung the rod, to make the bottom hem look even. Then I hid the rod with a valance.)
I have the button spacer and use it all the time.
Thank you,love your top and can you pls show me how to sew a top with buttons on the side seams
Oh thank you so much, it is the Sew Over It pussy bow blouse, you can find it here www.sewessential.co.uk/pussy-bow-blouse-sew-over-it-pattern it is a brilliant and easy to sew pattern. To sew a top with buttons on the side seams if you wanted them to actually fasten you would need to add a placket.
looks good, color suit you well
Thank you very much!
💕💕💕Lovely milk drop
I'm pretty sure my next purchase will be a Simflex gauge. Looks sturdy. A thought for lefties... Using my sister's iron, I found that the cord coming out on the side instead of center back made left handed pressing a bit annoying.
Love your comments; how do I find the sleeve board for sale?, thank you X
I think it is this one you are referring to: www.sewessential.co.uk/prym-sleeve-ironing-board hope that helps
love the material
That’s a beautiful version of the Sew Over It Pussy Bow Blouse! I love your fabric choice! Is it a viscose challis? I have prepped my pattern pieces for this blouse yesterday, but still waiting for my fabric to arrive. Apart from the mini iron and needle threader I have all the recommended tools in this video and indeed they are very useful.
I don’t seem to b able to find the hem pressing aid through the link or on the website?
What a coincidence! I had just finished watching this vid and about to comment I can’t wait for my tailor clapper to arrive, when the door knocked delivering my sew essential order! I am so pleased with it, can’t wait to make a shirt now! Thanks Lucy! ...feel like I need to order some silk organza now :)
They are so lovely aren't they Marie? Glad you like it and, yes, shirts will be a breeze with that little helper! Enjoy!
After the comment I made, I forgot to add that I like you videos, even at my age I can still learn something.
So lovely of you to say, thank you so much.
Wonderful gadgets!
Apologies if I missed it in your video but another gadget I favor is a pressing ham for curved seams.
I have some form of all the others you mention except for the Simflex Gauge. I'm a cheapskate and keep looking for a bargain price. I make quilts as well as clothing and the Simflex would help me put evenly-spaced scallops on them, something I've never been able to do successfully . Pattern weights are great - I like to use them with knits. I lay down the pattern piece, pop on the weights and cut with a rotary cutter. It's quick and gives me a better result than scissors. I prefer to make them myself so
I send my hubby to the hardware store for fender washers, the thickest & heaviest he can find; they're very inexpensive. (There's that cheapskate thing again) I hot glue and stack a few of them together, "eyeball" and cut a circular piece of scrap fabric with pinking shears, gather it up and tie with a piece of button and carpet thread so there's about an inch of fabric sticking up (similar to a pumpkin with a stem). It takes only moments and you have a pattern weight with it's own handle! I keep having to make more because I'm constantly finding myself giving a few of them away to someone who'd love to try them.
Thanks for all the terrific tips and hints you share!
I think a good idea as your showing the items would be to let us know the prices .
I can see the use of a simflex for buttonholes, but as an experienced smocker, I cannot think of where I would use it there. I'd be interested to know what I'm missing on that one.
Hi Mary, you could use it to measure and mark the fabric to help you achieve even smocking.
Sew Essential No. You use a pleater.
How do I find the links?
Great gadgets, I purchased the simflex sewing gauge from you, I’ve yet to use it but I think it’s going to be a well used item.
Thanks very much for your order Jacqueline, yes everybody raves about them so I'm sure you'll find it useful.
I recently moved and somehow my very old Simflex disappeared. After purchasing a new one I was disappointed in the reduced quality of the new one. It is much thinner metal, and quite rough around the edges. I have been carefully sanding the edges.
It’s great to see new tools but truly how about taking the threader out of the package. And to mention a pattern but not showing it...hmmm.
Didn't she say that they sold the last one and apologised...
PLEASE TELL ME THE COLOR OF YOUR PEG BOARS
Sim Flex
رائع جداً
من أين أحصل عليه؟
من أين أشتريه؟ 😭
I am confused is she saying the point press clapper is new? Cause remember playing with my Mom's clapper when I was a kid in fact I broke it pretending it was an ice skate over 40 years ago.
Hi Rebecca, no we're not saying the point press clapper is a new invention we are saying it is new to our site. You are quite right it is a long standing, traditional tool, which is why we're so happy to stock it - anything that stands the test of time is a useful investment!
Where are you from. I am originally from Walsall but live in the USA now.
Great video as usual and very helpful gadgets. Have you got a link for the pressing cloth please?
Hi Peg, thank you for the lovely feedback. Here is a link to the silk organza pressing cloth www.sewessential.co.uk/ivory-silk-organza you can buy half a metre and the price showing is per metre. Here is a link to all of our pressing aids www.sewessential.co.uk/sewing-tools-and-gadgets/garment-construction/pressing-aids
Thanks Lucy
It's a pleasure.
Some of your links are not working 🙃
Loved your selection of "aides". Can't find the modii selvage former in US on the internet. I assume you mail to US?
Yes we do, no problem at all. Thanks
A demo would have been more effective
Do they call a sprinkle covered donut a party ring in the UK ?
Haha I can see why you would think that, but no it is a special biscuit with icing on top. They are very very sweet and mostly for kids!
jenipeachy We have donuts but she means a cookie.
لماذا لا تترجمين لنا باللغة العربية؟
Thanks for sharing your video but your video could benefit your viewers who are visual learners not everyone is auditory
hahhahahaha wack the COLLAR.
I think that "gadget" is not really needed......
You really, really, like the word "really".
Haha yes and the phrase 'right into the corner!' I do find it hard when filming and brimming with enthusiasm not to repeat myself.
I noticed that too. I asked her "really?"
Me4mee
SimFlex buttonhole marker is not new; it's just making a comeback. Great tool, but always overpriced for some odd reason. After all, it is manufactured for pennies on the dollar. Nice video, however.
No babe, treating your tools like that you shouldn't expect to have them long. You really don't need to slam, just press firmly.
I waste my time
I loved the things you showed, your smacking of the lips is very annoying.
What!
Personal! 😳