Is there an easier way to rip out stitches?
 

I started out doing a machine serpentine stitch on my quilt but then went to a FMQ stitch. Now I need to pull out all the machine stitch....I can't get to the inside...Is there a better way than breaking one stitch at a time? Or do I just have to tough it out?

Watson

I am careful, but the small rotary cutter (45 mm)? is what I use all the time. I had a terrible time with a K quilt I just finished. First it was eyelashes on the back, then the backing got skewed, then the backing edge got folded underneath...whew! I about lost all my religion--- but the rotary cutter made faster work than stitch picking. Just wiped the thread bits w/tape and plowed on

I haven't used one, but several people her have said that a mustache trimmer does a quick job of ripping stitches.

Mustache trimmer works well, according to many quilters.

When I run into this problem I break every fifth or sixth stitch on the back. Then turn it over and pull the thread off in one
continuous length.

I break about every 5th stitch on one side (whichever one is easiest to get the seam ripper through), then turn it over and pull the thread from the other side. This usually works well for me.

Chasinghawk, you beat me to it. Great minds think alike. :)

I do like Chasing Hawk, rip every fifth or sixth stitch from the back, turn over and pull off the long top thread, it goes pretty fast that way and makes it easier to clean up the little threadlets left over since they are longer than single stitch length. Sometimes I start at an edge cutting every 4th or 5th stitch, but then when it gets to where I can peel the backing from the batting, I start gently peeling backing back while holding my seam ripper against the exposed stitches, I have also done this using one of those eye brow trimmers, but really the seam ripper is just as fast. You do need to be careful if you do it this way that you don't poke a hole in your backing or accidentally rip the backing fabric.

Rob
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I also clip every 4-5 stitches on one side with my little sharp scissors. I do a section and then pull the thread on the other side to clear out a long section at a time.[ATTACH=CONFIG]558040[/ATTACH]

Depends on how short the stitches are. When they are tiny, they are "challenging" to remove without messing up the fabric.

I sit in front of a magnifying light to rip. Helps a lot when you have
those tiny stitches. Try to remove a few stitches on one side then
pull the thread with one hand and cut with the seam ripper.