Ugh
 

Will I ever get to the point when I don't rip out as much as I sew???? And I'm definitely not inexperienced, either!

Ha!! I think that's expecting too much! All of us have to rip!

As ye sew, so shall ye rip! :)

I had that same thought today. It seemed like I was "unsewing" more today than sewing. I don't think I'm inexperienced either. It was just one of those days.

Been there done that, still hang out there often. Perhaps we'll meant there and chat some time. LOL
Country1

I sympathize. A lot.

I *am* inexperienced in quilting but not sewing. I had the "let's spend all day taking things out and resewing them ... eight times each" experience so badly with a project that I've just started it over as English paper piecing instead of machine piecing. It won't be perfect this way, but it'll be a whole lot closer and a whole lot more fun!

I would just be happy with not putting holes in the fabric when I rip seams out. There has to be a better way...

Get over it, and go on.. I just spent the last couple of hours with the scalpel.. It's extremely frustrating, but it is shows that you care the way it looks..

this to shell pass.

Will I am not sure I will ever get to a point that I do not have to rip, but I sure am getting good at it!!!!LOL

That's why seam rippers were invented...:) Just put some good music on and rip away. Then reward yourself with chocolate!! Works for me, and I have a lot of experience at it!!! :)

Dina

When I find myself in that situation make sure the seams are removed before I quit sewing for a while. I don't like to come back to "unsewing".

Those little spring loaded thread nippers are a god send(they're on ebay). Takes about half the time it takes using a seam ripper.

I've been known to re-cut two new fabric squares rather than rip two incorrectly-sewn squares apart! :p :D (I loathe ripping!)

You are soooo not alone. Somedays I rip more than sew:)

Just think of it as you're becoming an expert seam ripper outer! :thumbup:

My seam rippers are in every room, we need to start a group on here, How about the Rip Strippers? I make mistakes even when sewing strips. hehe.

I use my smallest rotary cutter to "rip". It goes so much faster to pull one seam side taut and just nick away at the thread stitches (like slicing between the layers). Then the sticky roller grabs the bits.

I've been sewing for years and I still rip all the time. My main problem is getting from the layout to the sewing machine. I seem to get things turned around and sew the wrong sides together. It sure does make the process longer! You are not alone.

I sure wish after quilting since the 1950s that I would get there!!!!!!!!

I just keep telling myself it builds character ;)

Quiltngolfer - my solution to getting from layout to machine is having my design wall (otherwise known as back side of flannel back tablecloth) directly behind my machine so I just have to reach up and grab the two pieces I'm sewing together. If it is big pieces, like two strips of already stitched together squares, I will hold or pin the top of the seam edges together as I take them down so I don't get confused and pin them together backwards. This has greatly diminished my ripping out. Still have other boo boos, but that's another story.

Rip happens! To all of us. Some days the sewing just doesn't go well. So I put it away and step away and take a breather!

My sister/law, got this at a yard sale5-6 years ago. And I do believe what it says. It's a wooden heart, with a pair of wooden scissors, on it, and the saying says--"As ye sew, so shall ye rip". I've have learnt to believe that line.

My seam ripper is my best friend! I think ripping out just goes with quilting. Some days it just gets to me too. Overall, on a good day I am just happy to sew.

Well at least in the privacy of your sewing area, no one can hear you curse.......LOL

I have just started using a beard trimmer, then pick up the little left over threads carefully with masking tape. The blades on the beard trimmer are tiny enough not to catch the fabric. Just 'Google' stitch removal with beard trimmer for more info.

I am always on a quest for a better seam ripper. Sew....I guess I do my share..or more!

I say "you are not a quilter unless you rip out some squares when making a quilt"

for hopetoquilt: there are a number of comments as to ripping or unsewing. It would be nice to be proficient and attentive to our quilting that w never had to do it. But we all know that that is not going to happen any time soon! You are rightly concerned about holes in your fabric. Some of the methods mentioned in this thread require pulling two layers apart and cutting the exposed threads. Care must be taken so that stretching the pieces does not happen. My preferred method is to use the tip of my seam ripper to lift and cut every five or six stitches on one side of the seam and then pull the long thread on the opposite side of the piece. No stretching involved. The bits of thread can be removed with tape or roller easily. I try to always take out my mistakes before I put my work away for the day so I can come back to a 'move forward' situation.

I just watched an app on smart phone developed by Alex Anderson's SIL that reverse sews stitches on the sewing machine. Go to The Quilt Show and I think it is free but it shows her sewing free motion on machine then she plugs in her smart phone to her sewing maching (if it has aUSB port) and going backwards over the stitches it "un sews" the stitches ! Amazing....

We all get (have) to rip. I prefer to look at it backwards as "piecing in reverse". It makes me take time to slow down & appreciate what I have been given. Blessings on your day.

Yes, you will get there! It can happen because you get better that the techniques or you just decide that those few imperfections make it unique and special because you made them. We all strive to make our points perfect, quilting exact and cutting straight but we are human beings who are not perfect. An incorrect breath when cutting or stitching can make a little error that often no one sees except us. Keep quilting and enjoy learning the skills you need to know to do the kind of quilting you enjoy.

Even experienced quilters make mistakes and put in a block side-ways or mess up points now and again. We have seen those postings on the Board. Give yourself some grace and don't lose the joy of the colors, patterns and process. Could it be that you are being too hard on yourself? Chin up and move ahead with a smile.

Just think of it as "continuing education". We all need a little refresher course once in a while. lol No matter how long you quilt or sew, you are going to have those days.

I find I am tired, physically or mentally. So I just stop and start again tomorrow. I also, try very hard not to have deadlines, did too many of those when I was working!!

Come on now, I thought I was the BEST "ripper outer" there was !!!

I have come to the conclusion that unsewing is as much a part of quilting as sewing :) I gave in to this conclusion and bought a seam ripper that has a nice large handle and is easier to hold. It's a nice bright color so I can't lose it and the handle is rubber and not perfectly round so it doesn't roll off my machine. I have yet to step up to the one with the light and magnifier.....but I know it is available. The tools make even the task of unsewing easier. (You noticed that I didn't say more pleasant and not frustrating.)

Goodness me!I suppose I ever get to the point where everything is so perfect and I don't need to 'reverse sew' I will think I have nothing left to learn. Be gentle on yourself, I had a conversation with my grandson today regarding ' buying ' or making , you can guess where the sides were. I tried to explain to him that maybe some day we would all need to go back to 'making'. He has such imagination and I think he saw the truth of what I was saying.What we make will possibly have many imperfections, but at least it will be unique.Enjoy what ever your skill is, I'm sure it gives much pleasure. Love Letty

There is nothing worse than ruining the relief you feel when you think you've finished a project, only to see something missewn. I understand! It comes with the territory. :)

I too am an experienced ripper outer so I can relate! I have been sewing since I was 10 and at 52 (almost 53) I still have days when I rip out more than I leave. Some days I have to walk away from whatever I am working on and do it another day to preserve my sanity!! lol