Frogging
 

I have to frog a whole bunch. Unfortunately.

I know there is a formula for taking so many stitches on top and then taking some on the underneath...


What's the quickest way to do this?

Watson...rippit, rippit

I hate frogging! Lucky me, hubby does most of it for me.

I tend to use my smaller rotary cutter for seams. got that tip from Eleanor Burns.

Another way...and unfortunately I can't remember where I saw it on YouTube......that little ball at the end of the short finger goes on the bottom, between the two seam edges, hold firmly and straight, and with that long finger on top, set the blade right up against the seam and you should be able to just move it along....cutting the stitch as you move.....it really works and I guess this is how professional tailors, sewers do it!

I cut every third stitch on top, then the bottom thread pulls off easily.

I rip by every fifth thread loop on top and pull on the bottom thread. It works like the old flour bags. (Lol, I guess that shows my age knowing about the bags.) If you are NOT on a bias edge, you can use a white pencil eraser to help grab the threads that remain in the seam. Just gently draw it over the threads and it usually grabs them out of the fabric.

I tried using the ball side to rip the way Geri b says, but, alas, I cut the seam fabric anyway. So, I don't do that.

Fons or Porter said to cut every 5 - 6 stitches on one side and the thread on the other sides should just pull out. It works most of the time. Happy ripping! :)

All the suggestions you're getting, proves we quilters surely know how to un-sew seams!!

I used one of those scalpel rippers to un-quilt my quilt. Work under a good light for 15-20 minutes at a time. Take a mini break and then right back to it.

Good luck!

Are you frogging piecing or quilting? If quilting, Google "how to skin a quilt" to find tips that make it go much faster.

There is an electric tool, looks like a shaver. And there's a manual seam ripper with a rubber bulb on the opposite end for getting out the threads.

I cut the threads on the side I can see the best, every 4-5 stitches. Then pull the opposite thread.

The last quilt show I went to I bought a little battery shaver, a mustache trimmer I think it was called, but it works great. Google it for a demonstration. It is made by Wahl. The address with mine is Sew Wonderful Dreams, Coeur D'Alene, ID

I use curved manicure (cuticle?) scissors with the tiny/skinny points for a lot of my frogging.

Ripping is so easy. I have had lots of practice. Should be able to do it in my sleep.

Same here...;)

I just got one and love it for long seams but have trouble using it for small pieces. I find it I hold down one end of the fabric with my elbow to hold it taut it works great. But haven't figured out how to separate small pieces. I'm assuming from reading other posts that frogging means ripping out seams, but I had not heard that term before.

For quilt tops of blocks I cut every 3-5 stitches.
I use the shaver type item more for if I have to remove work done on my LA as it is faster. Unfortunately, on blocks and tops there would be a lot of cut threads to remove.

Some people do the "rriiippp" thing to take apart a seam - but when I've tried it, I've also unintentionally torn the fabric.

So I do it the tedious way.

See Watson's post above: rippit, rippit

Just letting you know that this shaver is most likely a "Wahl" mustache trimmer and it costs less than $10. Several of my friends have bought one at the big quilt shows and when you take off the label on the shaver that the seller put on them, there for everyone to see, is the Wahl trademark. My friends paid $25 for these and then I show them mine that I bought on Amazon, which is the same one, for $8. So, please be advised. You can also get them at Walmart.

$25 vs. $8......Ripped off by one of our own! Not good....buyer beware. Give it a fancy name and a basic tool or gizmo becomes a specialty item......

Geri B, I believe there are many identical tools that we can get somewhere other than our quilt shops that are much less expensive. It seems if it's in a quilt show or fabric shop it automatically costs more. Very sad, especially for new quilters who are having to buy all their tools to get set up.

To avoid stretching the fabric, I clip with my seam ripper every 5 or 6 stitches (depends on stitch length) and pull the thread off on the opposite side. I use a piece of masking tape wrapped around my fingers to take away the little cut threads.

I do every 3 to 4 stitches "on top" being the side I can see the best. I may not be a professional quilter, but I definately am a professional ripper.

What's the world coming to when we can't even trust quilting "friends". :(

As noted, it's called frogging because you rip it, rip it. I believe this was originally a knitting term. When i frog knitting, it kind of sounds like its saying riiiiiibbit, riiiiibbit as you pull the yarn and the stitches pop apart.

The length of the seam to be removed, the length of the stitches and the orientation of the seam relative to the straight of grain or bias are all factors in determining which ripping technique to use. When I have a long seam with normal to long stitches, i like to clamp down one side, open up the seam into a V, and pull gently on the other side. The tension on the stitches makes them pop right in half long before the ripper gets close enough to cut the fabric. And its fun, lol. I sometimes use one blade of a scissors when I do it this way. My sewing machine has drawers, and the top one is at exactly the right height for me to slide it shut on one piece of fabric and press on it with my knee to maintain tension while I rip.

I had to read a few messages before I caught on! I thought "What in the heck are they talking about frogging?" DUH!

We are all on a budget and need to find good deals to maintain our hobby. However, criticizing the local quilt shop prices is not fair.

Quilt shops have high overheads. They pay taxes on, not only on the building (whether they own it or not) and their inventory. They have to maintain extensive sales records because they have to collect sales taxes and remit them to the state (They don't get paid to do tax forms, although they usually have to pay an accountant to fill out the forms.) They have employees they must pay. For every dollar they pay their employees, they fork over about 10 cents to the government in employment taxes. Then, there's vacation and holidays where the employee doesn't work, but must be paid anyway. At least in Texas, where I live, small businesses pay a lot more for electricity than the consumer does. They pay 3 to 4% of their sales to the credit card companies to process your credit card. I'm sure there are more overhead items than these, too.

Do you know of any local quilt shop owner who is getting rich? If they were getting rich, they wouldn't be going out of business in droves. If the businesses were really profitable, someone would buy them, rather than them going out of business.

They aren't gouging anyone on prices. They're just trying to make a living doing something they once enjoyed.

That said, I probably spend 5% of my quilting dollars in a LQS. I can find better deals on most items than I can get at the LQS, and I take advantage of it.

I'm just saying we should not criticize them for their prices. Just be grateful they are there for you when you spend 95% of your dollars elsewhere.

I predict that before long, they will all go the way of the local family owned shoe store, dress shop and bookstore.

bkay

I use a single edged razor blade. It is cheap and easy to replace for a sharp one. I try to cut carefully on the thread and have no problem

Frogging = Rippit, rippit, rippit (Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit.)

How easily a seams rips out is often related to how well your machine sews. My machines sew a very evenly balanced stitch so they don't pull out easily. My machine at sewing group isn't as 'perfect', so its stitching comes out easier. I cut every fourth stitch on the top and pull out the bottom.

I have the electric seam ripper and it works like a charm...LOVE IT...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know what frogging meant! Opened the thread to try to find out, so now I know.

Electric seam ripper?!? I've never heard of it. What does it look like? Where do you get one? I certainly need any help I can get in this chore!

Amazon...just go in w/electric or battery operated seam ripper...when you need to rip open seams it makes it so much easier then picking...you separate the end and then pull the fabric apart and just zip down the middle and it cuts thru the threads and not the fabric...something that would take me hrs...takes a few mins at most. They take 2AA batteries

I just looked at one on Amazon for 48.99! For that kind of money it should rip the seam, press it, pin it and then re-sew it; then give me a whopping rebate.

Actually got mine thru MSQC on a daily deal for 9.99

Wahl seam ripper Amazon 16.99 prime...

Thanks y'all. Sounds way better than the little pointy thingy I have!