Do you know what a knob is? I use one in my bra-making all the time.
A Knob
I’ve been using a knob for a few years now – almost since I started sewing bras. It’s a wooden ball, elevated, and on a base. It’s a great, very specialized, pressing tool for bra-making. I got this one from Bra-Makers Supply. You can find them here.
I love mine, but do have one little problem with it. It’s little. Well, it’s littler than me. I find when I’m using it, I’m only ironing about a two-inch part of the seam at a time, and my seams are all a fair amount longer than two-inches.
I’ve wanted a larger one for a long time. I knew they were available at one time. Here’s an old photo, from Bra-Makers Supply’s site. I had kept it for inspiration.
This was from the old store location, and it showed one of the walls. Do you see down there on the left?
Here. Let me show you what I’m looking at.
Knobs! And they came in different sizes! Larger sizes! Unfortunately, Beverly said she was no longer able to get the other sizes. So, I have been looking for a wooden finial to make a larger knob since I saw this photo.
Options
I’ve searched all the home building stores for something that would work. And I’ve searched online as well. I did find a few options, but they were just too expensive when the shipping was added.
Here. Let me share with you a few of the options I found.
I found this on eBay. It’s a wooden ball with a flat bottom. I’m sure it would have been great, but the $65 shipping was way too much for me.
I kept looking.
Next I found this finial.
I found this on Mr. Spindle. I called their 1-800 number thinking a knob the right size was finally going to be within a reasonable amount, and then I was told the shipping. The shipping wasn’t much less than what the eBay shop was charging. I started to think of giving up the search again.
I have to say, I shared my whole story with the receptionist at Mr. Spindle. What I was going to use it for, how I’d been searching for a few years now and not finding anything, or finding something and the shipping being too expensive. Then the receptionist said to just wait a minute. She came back on the line and had the shipping down to $20. She did warn me there might be customs on it when it arrived. I bought it.
More good news – there were no extra charges when my order arrived.
My New Knob
Lastly, let me show you the difference between the two knobs and just why I’m so excited about this.
My first thought is, ‘That looks huge!’ However, when sewing the cup seams together, they’re still relatively flat. A larger pressing surface is going to be great!
To give a better perspective, here’s the smaller knob with the first too-small Angie cup over it.
The cup dwarfs the knob.
And here’s that same Angie cup on the new knob. 
The knob fills a lot more of the cup. What a difference this will make!
I’ve asked my hubby to help me make the base. We’ve found a post cap that worked. I’m not sure exactly how he attached it, but it works perfectly!
Here’s my completed knob.
I have to tell you, it works wonderfully! I was using it on my most recent bra – Ruby II. I love this!
Happy creating!
