Clipping...

I'll get to that in a moment...

Does anyone know what this is?

More specifically, do you know what it is called?  And do you know where I can get a couple of them?

This is a wooden whoosiewhatsit for winding embroidery floss, perle cotton or other yarn, floss, whatever.  I bought a couple of them at a shop a few years ago and I love them.  If nothing else, they're kind of cool looking.  The shopowner didn't know what they were called and since she had bought them from an overseas vendor at a show, she didn't know how/where to buy more. 

Of course, maybe she knew and didn't want to tell me... though I can't say I've ever met anyone in the quilting business like that... well, not me, personally... but I've heard...

Which reminds me, I found another one of my favorite "quilting" cartoons... 

 

Hmmm... wonder who JC knows?

Now about that clipping thing... Laurie of Minick and Simpson fame recently wrote about pressing while discussing some random thoughts on piecing.  (By the way, make sure to stop by and say Hello ~ and keep a good thought for Polly and Laurie's brother Jeff.) 

I think you know that I'm a big fan of pressing seams open for some things.  I do what I need to do depending on the situation.  So while finishing up a little quilt using Wiscasset, I realized that I was doing something that I never thought I would do... a little technique that I've come to love.  And I hadn't talked about it... until today. 

Hi, my name is Carrie and I clip seams.

Okay, it isn't really one of those "anonymous" kind of confessions but I sometimes think it should be.  As quilters, it seems as though we're always been told about rules... rules we have to follow or be cast out of the quilting community without hope of salvation.  Why?  Because they are the RULES.  R-U-L-E-S!  And they must not be broken.  Not ever.   

Covet thy neighbor's husband?  Okay... but just don't press those seams open!

So when I heard years ago of a few very brave souls actually clipping into the seam allowance to let a seam flip directions to lay flat... well, I was aghast!  In fact, I think it was the first time I had ever actually been "aghast"!  When I first heard it discussed in public, ladies started making the sign of the scissors and whispering prayers to stave off the "weakening of the seams" and the "destruction of the integrity of the fabric".  I even heard some ladies start making plans to store huge quantities of fabric lest the gods decide to rain boll weevils upon us to destroy our cotton! 

Okay, maybe it wasn't that serious but there were sure a lot of otherwise-normal ladies making it sound as though the consequences of such an action were that dire.

You may know that Jo Morton is a big  fan of clipping seams.  Bet you didn't know Jo was that much of a rebel!  She even writes about it in her books and patterns and refers to it as her "clipping trick".  I admit it... I was still skeptical.  And since I didn't have any issues with pressing seams open, it wasn't like I needed this little trick in my repetoire. 

So I stayed on the fence a bit ~ not exactly a supporter but not entirely dismissive.  It's kind of how I am about ghosts ~ I would really like to have a little more conclusive proof but I'm not going to discount the possibility just in case some "spirit" decides to convince me otherwise. 

But while harassing Jo at The Buggy Barn last year, she said something that made me think "well, DUH!".  The embarassing part is that I should have thought of it before.  I've made almost every wearable garment known to mankind ~ and a few that probably weren't wearable or previously known but we won't go there... it was the 1970s, 'nuff said.  I've done tailoring, heirloom sewing and learned advanced production techniques.  

I've made hundreds of garments with collars, finished necklines, sleeves, finished armholes and such.  And never once in all the times I clipped and graded those seams did I ever have something fray or come apart because I had clipped a seam.  With all the washing, wearing and movement, the seams get a lot of stress.   

Which is going to get more wear and tear on the seams ~ a sleeve or a quilt?    

That's what I thought.

So count me in... or clip me in.

All you have to to is use some really, really sharp scissors with a super sharp point and clip to just short of the seam.  Press the seams in the direction you need them to go. 

That's the back of a new Schnibble quilt made with Wiscasset ~ as soon as the quilt gets photographed next week, I'll show you the front of it.  I think it's going to be called Lincoln Logs.

I might have a picture of Madeline too ~ another new Schnibble.   

Comments

[Jayces]

That actually looks like a wooden lacemakers bobbin. It's fancier than most I've seen, but that's what it looks like! You can find more modern ones all over the internet, but yours look much fancier! Nice find!

[Laurie]

Good for you! Clipping seams, you brazen woman, you. I believe (uh oh, getting up on the soapbox again) that many of these rules are garment sewing rules/home-ec dictates that we were once graded on and really have no relevance to our quilts. No rules, no grades. Anyway.... the only time you have to worry about the integrity of the seams is while you are piecing it and UNTIL it is quilted. Once guilted - there is barely any stress on the seams. Nada. Zilch. The stress is now on the quilting stitches. Just look at antique quilts that have been in use for decades, washed dozens of times, and were hand pieced. The piecing seams are still there.

[Evelyn]

I found something similar to your whoosiewhatsit (blogged here: http://usetheloot.blogspot.com/2009/05/loot-report-thread-bonanza.html). I'm not sure it was their original purpose, but it looked like the previous owner of the ones I have used them to store little bits of thread. Would love to know more about them...

[Mah]

The wooden whoosiewhatsit has to do with a weaving loom and using with different color threads but that's all I know about it. As far as clipping I do it all the time and when I applique using the needle turn (or tooth pick turn) method I clip every 1/4" or less even on straight seams. If it works for you, go for it!

[Live a Colorful Life]

This was really interesting. I have felt quite rebellious since I press my seams open nearly all the time. Some quilters look at you like you have lost your mind by breaking such a rule. Clipping...my new rebellious horizon.

[Joyce]

I have clipped seams and pressed seams open when the "need" arose but just never told anyone. :/

[Melody]

Rebel Quilters Unite! We make our own rules! Let us know if you find out where to buy that thingamajig. I would love to have a couple myself.
Sew long,
Melody

[Cindy]

I think clipping seams is the perfect solution in some pieced blocks. What eased my fear of clipping is when I realized that I clip all the time in applique with no problem. Can't wait to see Madeline - it's my new granddaughter's name (coming in Qct.)!

[Carol]

I clip seams, and very often press seams open...we do what we need to do to get those blocks to lay nice and flat. We can't confess this just anywhere though..LOL!

[Sinta Renee]

As for me... I will clip but then I have to say 8 Hail Mary's.

[auntiepami]

Found one on Nordic Needle's site.

http://www.nordicneedle.com/PROD/E25-00-00/380-913-0011.html

Also, if you are feeling crafty, Heather Bailey made some from dowels and endcaps. Visit her blog. I'm not sure if she has directions, it's been too long since I've seen them and they are similar, but for one thread. Super cute!

Clipping is great. It really helps when you go to quilt, as you are going through less layers and the quilt is flatter overall (remember the pinwheel bumps)?

[Janet]

my thoughts were that it was a weaving shuttle or a lace shuttle, but not sure. In terms of clipping and pressing open - I do it all the time. I'm not in the least concerned with the "Quilt Police", and do what it takes to make my blocks and quilts be what I want them to be!

[Cathy McMann]

I agree with Jayces (first comment above); the wooden thing is a small bobbin, probably for lace making. If you ever see a picture of lace being made by hand, you will see dozens of these bobbins involved, each holding one length of thread.

[Deb]

Yes, is this the 12 step programme for seam clippers??
Great, I need to get something off my chest....whew. I clip seams also.
That feels so much better. So how often does this group get together and are there meetings off-line.lol

[nicolette]

I’ve clipped a very few seams... and it felt like I did something really bad! So I’m happy to read your post and the comments!

I’ve never seen bobbins like these before, I don‘t think they are for weaving or lacemaking. These bobbins are for lacemaking:

http://www.kleinhout.com/nl/kantklosjes/

[nicolette]

This is the link to Heather Bailey’s bobbins:

http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/2006/05/thingamabobbins.html

[Laurie]

p.s. LOVE the cartoon!

[Robyn Brown]

Love the cartoon. I too would love to know what that thing is called??

[Louise Murphy]

Oh my...we have ladies jumping out of the box all over the place here..Who knew? I think this is a good cleansing process for the soul. Feels good..now clip away..Louise

[Ronda K Beyer]

The BEST Cheater wins, I have been a clipper for years... And being a longarm quilter I can say I love clippers.....

[MichelleB]

Loved your post. It totally cracked me up. I have to say, I never even considered clipping! I will now add that to my list of things that I CAN do.

[Allyson in Alaska]

That doodad is called a Soldier's Friend. It's a civil war replica that was used by soldiers in the field. They would wind threads of uniform matching colors around the bobbin-like areas, and the cap would pop off to encase needles. You can find them here:

http://www.rushintailor.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/228_238_311

Hope this helps!

[Sandy]

Hi, my name is Sandy, and I too clip seams when the need may arise. Whew, now I feel better.
Thanks Carrie.

[a good yarn]

As I struggle over the chunky seams on my current quilt I deeply regret not clipping. Sigh. One lives and learns.

[Cara]

I clip seams. And I've never had a problem. I can;t press seams open, at least not quilting seams because I tend to burn myself! I discovered clipping seams because I'd boo boo'd and was trying to fix a REALLY bulky seam with out unsewing (which I hate).
I love that I'm self taught. Otherwise I'd never be able to break "rules", I'm too goody goody lol.

[Karen Grabowski]

My name is Karen and I'm a Clipper, too. There I said it out loud. Heck yeah! Clipping is mighty handy when sewing a quilt with blocks set on point. You press those setting triangles on the ends and then when you sew the long rows together, you have to clip or you end up forcing fabric into a place where it doesn't want to go and we all know what happens then.....it doesn't LAY FLAT! Okay, so I'm willing to be a Clipper if it means I get flatness in return. Carrie, you are not alone as a Clipper and I'll stand proudly with you any day of the week!

[Tammy Parker]

I saw something like that recently on freecycle and she called them bobbins. I'm a seam clipper too, I used to just be a seam flipper and then one day I thought of just clipping it to make it flatter. I had no idea I was doing something controversial lol!! I may have had an inkling that it was a no-no though because, come to think of it, I'm pretty sure I've never mentioned it to anyone :)

[Jo Morton]

Dear Carrie - thanks for mentioning me and my good habits!!! I've been clipping for a very long time, so long that I can't remember when I started for sure, at least well over 15 years ago, maybe up to 20 years ago - but who's counting? :-)
Hugs,
Jo

[Kim]

That cartoon is hysterical!! Love that thingamajig! And I've never pressed seams open or clipped, but that's not to say I wouldn't. :o)