Hi, I was given this ripper for a Christmas present and it is wonderful -- it is also very sharp! (or else I hadn't realised how blunt my older, smaller rippers are). Anyway, I was ripping away at some stitches and marvelling how quickly and easily it cut through the threads, and found I had also sliced through the fabric. So all the time I saved using a wonderful sharp ripper will be more than lost by sewing a patch over the ripped fabric. So take care!