Thread: Un-sewing

I've been quilting for several years but I'm still a novice, and like many of us I sometimes goof up, well today was no exception and I was grumbling in regards to having to un-sew some stitches and my husband asked me... have you ever made something you haven't had to un-sew? Of course I wanted to give him a snappy answer but instead I just said "no" in a very silent voice. After I thought about it for awhile I decided how depressing to think you are going to start on a new project of sewing knowing full well you are going to spend time taking it apart, lol. So has anyone out there ever made something they didn't have to un-sew?

Are you kidding?? I've had to rip out many different spots in each quilt I've made in the last 30 years. It's just part of the process of quilting.

I un sew so frequently that I finally invested in a Galaxy Notions electric seam ripper. I use a plastic clamp to hold one piece to my pressing board and rip away. A mens beard trimmer would probably work but mine was only $20 http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...seam+ripper.do

I am in the process at this very minute of deciding whether or not to un-sew a project....or get more creative with it. I can't think of any of my projects that haven't had some unsewing!

I unsew for a couple of reasons -

Sometimes my seams are wonky

Sometimes I just changed my mind about what I did and want to do something differently

I probably have but it only the projects with the ripping I remember.

I just accept ripping as part of the project. I have a seam ripper mounted to my dsm, and a Quick Ripper handy in the drawer by my dsm for big ripping jobs. Then I just don't dwell on it. Just like the eraser on your pencil, or the delete button on your keyboard, it's just part of the process of creating.

The only project - quilts; other craft sewing; home dec sewing; garments - that I have NOT had to unsew was just the other day when I was turning under raw edges on a rectangle of fabric to make arm covers for the recliner!