How to use a seam ripper.....WOW, it's news to me!

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02-18-2015, 10:01 AM

#11

PaperPrincess

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Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Michigan

Posts: 11,276

You need to fit the technique to the fabric you are working with. Notice that she is working on heavy home dec fabric and is sewing on grain. This is THE technique for this situation. Ripper just zips right along. With thinner fabric you have to be really careful because a seam ripper can cut right thru the fabric. You can put some tension on the seam with a birds beak (a.k.a. bird's clamp, sewing bird), that will help, but you still need to be very careful. If your seam is not on the fabric grain, or you want the least amount of distortion, this is a good technique to use:
http://howtosew.com/blog/sewing-basics/use-seam-ripper

02-18-2015, 10:58 AM

#12

MartiMorga

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: Springville, Tennessee

Posts: 1,123

I just used this method - worked great, EXCEPT when I got to the end I was going so fast and so well - stabbed my left hand palm - smartz.

02-18-2015, 12:08 PM

#13

OneDoxieMom

Member

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: New Mexico

Posts: 63

I always wondered why that little plastic ball was on the short side........

02-18-2015, 02:43 PM

#14

sewingsuz

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Arizona

Posts: 7,850

I never knew this and I have been sewing for 60 yrs. I will try it next time. Thanks for the link.

02-18-2015, 02:51 PM

#15

KenmoreGal2

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum

Posts: 1,271

I just tried this and it worked great. Thanks! The seam I ripped was sewn with the tiniest of stitches, I wasn't looking forward to trying to pick them out.

02-18-2015, 02:51 PM

#16

Ms Kay

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: Massachusetts

Posts: 372

Just ordered one. It cost $ 18.00 plus $ 8.00 shipping. It better be as good as she says.

02-18-2015, 03:37 PM

#17

Leslie333

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Ohio

Posts: 788

I have that same brass seam ripper and love it! This is my second. Hubby decided to use my first one to remove a button...forcefully. Broke off the tip. Grrrr. We now have rules about touching my sewing stuff!

02-18-2015, 04:36 PM

#18

Barb in Louisiana

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: The Deep South near Cajun Country, USA

Posts: 5,385

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barb in Louisiana

Very interesting. I am going to check that out with all my seam rippers as soon as I start sewing later today. I am very confident that I can sew a seam that needs ripping without any effort at all. After all, I always do. lol

Seriously, I have never known what the little ball was for. I did wonder at times, but never even looked it up. Now that I have stated I will be sewing and most probably ripping, my sewing should go perfectly today. I'll post an update when I actually get to test this method.

Well, I did do some sewing today. I got to test this way of ripping within minutes. It amazes me how I can lay everything out and turn it before I sew it. LOL The ripping was faster, but I found that I pulled a couple of seams apart. I was sewing log cabin blocks together. I will use this method when there aren't other seams intersecting into the new seam. Even with picking up all the tiny threads, it still was quicker.

02-18-2015, 06:43 PM

#19

Barb_MO

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Missouri

Posts: 2,485

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onebyone

Unless the seam is short or on bias I rip it out by hand. I have never torn or distorted fabric this way. Done in about a second. It shocks the devil out of other quilters seeing me do this. LOL

What do you mean by "I rip it out by hand"