Do any of you have a special technique for ripping seams?

I'm always frustrated by trying to hold open the fabric with my left hand while maneuvering the ripper with my right hand. I feel like I need a third hand to help me stabilize everything. I tend to rip the stitches between the two fabric pieces rather than just ripping them out on one side.

I've seen tabletop seam rippers in the store and the idea interests me. Does anyone have one of these or know if they work on ripping out quilt seams?

Also, I tend to be ripping a big seam, it's going nice and quick, and then booom! it goes right thru the fabric.

I never use a seam ripper. Ever. I use a pair of small scissors with a fine point and cut the thread on the top about every 5 to 8 stitches. The fabrics will just pull apart then. The biggest advantage is there are half the tiny threads left to pick out since you only cut one side.

I do that with a seam ripper.

I get my husband to do it :) Seriously, he enjoys ripping seams.

I use my rotary cutter more than my seam ripper. It's faster and I have never nicked my fabric. I hold taunt one side of the seam with my thumb and two last fingers and the other side of the seam with my index and middle finger. Sew a practice seam and use the rotary cutter. I think you'll love it.

I have a little thingy that looks like a paper weight with a hole in the center. You put the seam ripper on it with the blade standing up and you have both hands available to hold the fabric. I use it often.

Maria

I use a razor blade.

I usually use tiny manicure scissors and cut the stitches apart. The blades are so small one could also just nip the threads every so often (if the stitches aren't too small)

Works much better than a seam ripper. Of course, seam rippers also get old and dull, so a "fresh" and sharp one makes the process go better.

I don't cut the stitches between the layers of fabric. Why risk stretching the edges? I lift the stitches from one side with the point of a seam ripper until the thread starts to drag, usually a couple inches worth. Then I snip that thread with small scissors and start over again. The bottom thread comes off in one piece at the end and there are no small pieces of thread to clean up. I actually never use the cutting part of the seam ripper at all. Works for me!

Alex Anderson showed cutting every third stitch on the bobin side with a seam ripper and then pulling on the top thread. It works well and doesn't stretch the fabric. It is also possible to use a "mustasch" trimmer to gently touch the stitches in a held open seam. It takes a little practice but works well especially on long seams. The trick is to hold the shaver with wrong side down. The opposite way you would use it as a shaver.