Going like the clappers - and other hot tips.

Whenever the washing pile and the ironing pile create a perfect storm - I think of my grannies.  Nan O'Toole was a tiny little thing with snow white hair and sparkly blue eyes who, when her husband had left her and their 9 children for another woman, took in other people's laundry to put food on the table.


No washing machine, just a boiler and a mangle.

My other granny was widowed young and left to care for four children.  She died when I was a baby but I've heard the stories of how hard she worked to lead her family out of difficult times.

Now, each time I process the laundry I connect with the old girls and say a quiet hello to the grannies and give thanks and appreciation for their grit - and am grateful for modern appliances!

Tailor's Clapper

Organza Pressing Cloth

I think they'd been highly amused at my new toys!  Can you guess what they are?

On the left is a square of organza cloth - perfect when you want to actually see what you are pressing but need to protect the fabric from the iron.

On the right is a Tailor's Clapper - an amazing device that my grandmothers' were no doubt very familiar with.  I'm not super confident with my sewing yet, but one thing I want to be able to achieve is a handmade rather than homemade look and, I'm reliably informed by my friend who's mother worked for a couturier, the secret is in the pressing!

The clapper gives a lovely finish as the wood absorbs the moisture from the steam and flattens the seams beautifully.

So, my dear grannies, your years of hard labour doing laundry has not been wasted on me!  I am a woman who appreciates the value of good laundry skills!

To see the clapper in action, here's a really helpful video from Didyoumakethat? There's lots of great info and inspiring posts on her blog, too.