Home Made Pressing Aids
Since some sewing accessories can be expensive, it can be fun to create effective "copies." Seam sticks can be effective in pressing some fabrics to produce the desired results when steaming open seams. To make your own, go to your local lumber yard and ask for about 18" of rounded top stair railing. It can be used "as is" but is more effective when the top curve is covered with a strip of heavy woolen fabric. Wool felt is ideal, but may be difficult to find. Try a thrift store to find a suitable smooth covering .. Pressing seams on this curved top leaves no seam imprint on the right side. Another tool that is indispensable when pressing open "reluctant" seams is a "dauber." It was easy to make and great for adding moisture in the seam area only. To make your own dauber, start with a long, straight of grain strip of absorbent woolen fabric, about 2 W' wide and long enough so that when you roll it up tightly, you are making a tool about the size of a lipstick tube. Sew the edge of the "tube" by hand. This stays on the cutting and pressing table placed in a teacup (or similar container). To use, add about 1" of water to the cup and place the smooth end of the dauber into the water long enough for it to absorb moisture, thus the moisture is easily transferred to run along any open seam that you want moistened. Using a press cloth creates a neat and long lasting opened seam.
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