I just did some ripping. I used my Very Sharp pointed scissors made by Fiskar. They are only about 4" long and very fine points. I would cut the thread about 4 - 6 inches down. Then use the ripper or I used my needle point tweezers and pulled about a inch of thread loose. Just enough that I could get a good hold on it. Then I folded the quilt over the thread I wanted out and pulled gently as though to gather (using the bobbin thread). I could easily get the thread to just pull right out. Occasionally the thread will break. Then just pull out enough from the end to start over. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but after just a few attempts you will get the hang of it. This only works where the thread is straight.