Best Little Seam Ripper in My Sewing Room

I've got so little done this week, sewing-wise, that I really don't have anything to show. I did sew one "Star Spangled Summer" block this morning, but it's not so different from the others that I want to post a pic right now.

But I did think of something to post when I opened a new packet of eyebrow trimmers a little while ago when I had to rip out of missewn seam.

Rip1

A few years ago, a nationally know quilting teacher gave us this tip at a guild program. I don't really recall which nationally known teacher it was. Maybe the other Susan Cleveland (Susan K.), but maybe not. I'm just not sure. But it's an excellent tip. I now use an eyebrow trimmer almost every time I need to rip out a seam. Unless I have run out of sharp ones (they do get dull eventually).

To use this neat little tool, just hold your two pieces of fabric apart with the fingers of one hand, while you gently use the blade of the trimmer to cut through the seam. There isn't much danger of nicking your fabric, but it is possible, so keep the trimmer on the thread, not the fabric.

Rip2

These little gadgets are not expensive. I got this set at TJ Maxx for $3.99. But they're available at Wal-Mart too, and might be just a little bit cheaper.

Rip3

It's the fastest way I have found to unsew a seam. Since it's only me in the house right now, I wasn't able to get a good photo of me holding the unit while ripping the seam. But I did find a video on YouTube that shows the process. (See below for link. You'll have to cut and paste since I still can't get my computer to take the html for links. I'm on my old Mac Pro, which I'm told is now a relic.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lay_rDTcLXE

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 07/22/2017, Barbara Anne said ...

Good information! Thanks!

It's too hot to sew or do much here, too. We need rain, pretty please.

Hugs!

On 07/22/2017, bfbarnes44@gmail.com said ...

Thanks for the information.

On 07/24/2017, Karen in Michigan said ...

I used to be a professional tailor and in the shop, we used razor blades. They are still my go-to way of taking out a seam.
-----

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting There

Image
The new Blackberry Creek is getting close to completion. Thank you, Jed for all your work. I've finally found a minute to get still and learn to post. Doesn't seem too difficult. When all the old posts and photos get transferred, we'll start working on the layout.  Today, I'm going to attempt to scale the stairs and do some work in the sewing room. I'm falling father and farther behind on my schedule to get things ready for the June 2026 quilt show.
Read more

Book Talk

Image
To celebrate getting the border sewn on to my millefiori quilt, I decided to read a book--all the way through without stopping to sew anything. And I picked just the right one: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. If I had wanted to put it aside to sew, I don’t think I could have. This is the best book I’ve read for at least a year. It’s one of those stories that almost reads itself. You don’t feel like you reading but just enjoying an enthralling story. The pages fly by, and you’ve finished the book way before you’re ready to leave those wonderful but broken characters. The main character, Eddie (Edward) Adler, at the age of 12, survives an airliner crash. The crash claims 191 lives, including his parents and older brother. For the next six years, Edward struggles to carve out a place for himself in a world without his family. The story is heartbreaking and at the same time uplifting.  If you’re looking for a good book to read to usher in Autumn, I recommend this one highly...
Read more

Catching Up

Image
This is my new granddog Ozzy. Daughter Andy recently adopted him. He initially showed up at Jesse's girlfriend's house, and after trying unsuccessfully to find his owner, she made him at home. But having one dog, two children, three cats, and a full-time job already, Ozzy (his name was Chip at the time) became too much for her. So Andy took him in. At first she was sure she had made a mistake. Not having ever owned a dog that she was responsible for (we had dogs from time to time when she was a child), she was sure she had bitten off more than she could chew. But things are settled down, and Andy and Ozzy have bonded. They visit me frequently, usually on Saturday to watch the Bama game--or in the case of last Saturday, to watch movies as there was no Bama game. Ozzie is a very good dog and appears to be well cared for. He had not been snipped, but he has been now. And the vet gave him a clean bill of health. As of yesterday, all the blocks, all 120 of them, are finished fo...
Read more