My "what did I learn today" moment! Thanks

I made a quilt top several,years ago, sent it to the longarmer and the finished quilt, once I received it, had tension issues. The longarmer suggested a charge of $60 to remove the flawed quilting and requilt, the same amount already paid for quilting. Yes, it was long and tedious, but I pulled out every stitch myself. I also inadvertently created some snags and small tears. Today, the quilt is requilted, those picked places and the tiny tears (I placed fusing between the quilt top and the batting to close the tears, then quilted over the area to secure it) just aren't noticeable if you don't go looking for them. People who have seen this quilt say it is quite striking. Me? I'm so glad it is finally done and moved on to its home.

I suppose the message is to please be more careful than I was when removing stitches. I think you are probably much more experienced in all the steps of the quilting processes than I was when removing those stitches. Good luck, and happy unsewing.

Sorry that you have had this happen.....absolutely make a formal complaint to the woman who quilted it for you. Pick it apart from the back side in sections, that way when a section is completely unpicked you will feel the accomplishment involved.

Another way to rip out all that quilting.
I've done this. Having three hands really works well. I put one end under the needle of the sewing machine, in this case it would be the top, lower the needle so it holds onto that fabric, lift the back and slice with a scalpel type seam ripper. Pull gently on the back as you slice down on any threads that are tight. It's surprising that it cuts only the threads and not the fabric.

I did this as a demo at our meeting, and used a clamp to hold the top to the edge of the table. And doing it this way, those thousand threads are longer and are easier to pick up.

All you have to invest is your time. I'd take it out, too, if I could find a way that wouldn't drive me crazy. So sorry this happened to you. Did the long armer apologize or offer to make it good?

I totally agree with susananne. You will always regret not taking it apart. You have nothing to lose except all the time it is going to take. Watching brainless TV should help with the tedious task ahead.

I think I agree, I would pick it out.

Oh!!! I am so sorry. So much work goes into the piecing. I would definitely take it apart and redo. Good luck.

I agree. Go to the longarmer first and show her what happened. You may both benefit from the learning process. Regardless of the longarmer's response (hopefully good), definitely worth skinning the quilt and getting it requilted properly. Good luck.

You go girl!
 

Been there done that! Just keep saying to yourself "I will love this when it's done". It's worth every minute that you spend taking out the quilting, especially since your top is something you a happy with. Only caution would be to take your time so that you don't cut the top. I on the other hand tried to hurry and nipped the top twice. So slow down and take your time. Good luck!