Oh my, long before some of you were born, I took Home Ec in 9th grade and I don't remember there being seam rippers at that time. If there were, Miss Fuss (yes, that was her name) had us bring to class a safety razor blade. And we used it for any stitches we had to remove.
We had not yet learned to sew zippers so the skirt I was making had a placket with snaps, where a zipper would ordinarily go! I had one sewn incorrectly and was told to remove it. Ok, here comes the razor blade. I cut the fabric where it would show and did not get an "A" as I had hoped for, and naturally, I NEVER wore the skirt.
Where were the seam rippers that day? I sure could have used one. Since then, I have seam rippers in about every room of my house. When I need to rip, I can "reach out and grab one!" Nothing like having things handy!
June in Cincinnati