Un-sewing
 

I've been quilting for several years but I'm still a novice, and like many of us I sometimes goof up, well today was no exception and I was grumbling in regards to having to un-sew some stitches and my husband asked me... have you ever made something you haven't had to un-sew? Of course I wanted to give him a snappy answer but instead I just said "no" in a very silent voice. After I thought about it for awhile I decided how depressing to think you are going to start on a new project of sewing knowing full well you are going to spend time taking it apart, lol. So has anyone out there ever made something they didn't have to un-sew?

Are you kidding?? I've had to rip out many different spots in each quilt I've made in the last 30 years. It's just part of the process of quilting.

I am in the process at this very minute of deciding whether or not to un-sew a project....or get more creative with it. I can't think of any of my projects that haven't had some unsewing!

Just part of the process, nothing to beat yourself up over. None of us are perfect, we all have those parts in Every project that doesn't go quite right-- right down to 3 perfect binding miter corners & 1 messed up one.

I unsew for a couple of reasons -

Sometimes my seams are wonky

Sometimes I just changed my mind about what I did and want to do something differently

I just accept ripping as part of the project. I have a seam ripper mounted to my dsm, and a Quick Ripper handy in the drawer by my dsm for big ripping jobs. Then I just don't dwell on it. Just like the eraser on your pencil, or the delete button on your keyboard, it's just part of the process of creating.

Yes I have. But that is because when I realized the mistake I was just too lazy to take it out and pretended I wanted it that way.

The only project - quilts; other craft sewing; home dec sewing; garments - that I have NOT had to unsew was just the other day when I was turning under raw edges on a rectangle of fabric to make arm covers for the recliner!

Nope.

:) LOL

If you were a writer would you expect never to have to revise your work?

If you were a carpenter would every nail go in straight?

If you were a mailman would you never deliver a letter to the wrong house (my mailman sure does it a lot).

If you were a programmer would every program work right the first time? (Mine rarely did.)

If you were... well, you get the idea. Ask DH if he ever has to re-do something in his work or hobby and wait for a truthful answer. Then give yourself a break and enjoy the opportunity to sit down and fondle your fabric while you use the ripper.

Almost every quilt I make, there is at least one block I have had to undo. Here is the latest one that I goofed up. Fortunately, it was only the one block. Can't see the wrong side with batiks.

I call myself "Stitchnripper" for a good reason. But, I find ripping stitches somehow relaxing. I don't normally mind. I quilt for my own pleasure and am never in a hurry, so what's a few seams to rip. No big whoop.

It's my most frequent form of handwork in front of the TV. I get my tea, coffee, or wine, my project, my blanket if I'm cold, the remote and my seam ripper.

Just finished 'unsewing' the center of a quilt and making a correction. Hang in there.

I consider my seam-ripper to be my best friend!

I did alterations for quite some time. It cured me of my dislike for the seamripper - because no matter what I did - unsewing was almost always the first step to a successful ending!

It's the best way to end up with a great finished product, being willing to try again if something ends up off.

Yes, I have but doing so was a huge mistake and one that I regret every time I see that quilt. I have invested more time in wishing I had un-sewed that seam than it would have taken to fix the problem.

Two days ago, I showed my niece a small quilt I made that had 25 strips in it, plus a border. The story went like this - one of my first quilts. every piece was sewn wavy, and every piece had to be "un-sewn. That meant ripping out 50 wavy stitch lines.

She was working on her first quilt. Straight sewing isn't as easy as it looks, and my example was to show her that we make mistakes, the mistakes can be fixed, and sewing straight isn't as easy as it looks.

I heard her humming as she 'un-stitched' some of her work.

It's good to know that you don't have to be perfect - ever.
.

Ripping just comes with the territory, I don't mind it much, it's just getting the little unsewn thread pieces out that bothers me. Someone here said they use a pencil eraser to pull them out and it does make it easier but arg those little snippets are annoying.

I took apart a queen size top that I had just finished because I thought it was too plain.

well, I also have been quilting for some time and this last week was not thinking..... I have pieced a quilt top for my Grandson to be born soon and my daughter wanted minkee...so I bought the minkee and placed on the longarm as a backing ( I have always quilted minkee as a top). When I took it off the frame---the minkee had streached and the top was puckered. It's only for family...so I added the binding and was hand stitching about 3/4 of it when I came to my senses. Tore off the binding and have been ripping for two day. :rolleyes:

My family deserves my best. So, she that sewth, rippeth.

Only in my dreams!

Besides a sewing machine a good seam ripper and a good iron are necessary tools.

I know that I have to unsew because I have a standard of perfection (that does not necessarily mean absolutely perfect). I know that if I start out not having things right that the problem grows because making a quilt is a building process. If the beginning steps are sloppy it doesn't just make itself right. I really try to minimize it by measuring carefully and not trying shortcuts that could lead to big problems. If I chain piece I verify that I have it put together correctly before making a gazillion. Make test blocks before making 30. But no matter how careful I think I am, I still have some unsewing to do. It is just part of the process. I like the comment above, we have erasers and delete buttons.

All my patterns have always stated "some un-sewing experience required":)

I have seam rippers in every corner of the house, every tote bag, every sewing machine area, and in my purse. I buy them in sets of three.

Never, it just seems to be part of the process for me. It is a vague goal of mine to not have any mistakes to rip out in at least one project!

My biggest reason for un-sewing is the fabric is sewn right side to wrong side.
And yesterday I did a demo in front of our club, showed a pinwheel with the two halves ready to sew together, and lo and behold, they were not sewn the same way. Serves me right for not pinning the side I want to sew on.

I think we should consider ourselves lucky that we can change our minds if we choose to. I'm always changing something

I am ripping out the stitches of my puckered quilting now. I don't enjoy it but it is part of quilting for me.

Don't think of it as unsewing, it's redesigning!

I un-sew my share of stitches too. I bought an electric seam ripper. It is great when you get going with it. You can rip those stitches in record time. I love it! I would of never of bought one but Jenny Doan at MSQ had it on her deal of the day so thought I would try it. Glad I did.

I have "unsewn" a repair 3 times and may do it again, yet. I use a 28mm rotary to rip the stitches. Small enough for the hands to handle and fast. Have yet to cut the fabric and have probably now just jinxed myself.

I un sew so frequently that I finally invested in a Galaxy Notions electric seam ripper. I use a plastic clamp to hold one piece to my pressing board and rip away. A mens beard trimmer would probably work but mine was only $20 http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...seam+ripper.do

I should buy seam rippers by the gross.

Myself?? Not a single one has been made with no "do-overs." To me that's just a given...I will have to get out the seam ripper and spend some time going backwards. I, however, have seen some that I do believe have been put together in one fell swoop, but pretty much show that being concerned about one block being the same size as the next, or one fabrict doesn't go with the plan just isn't a big problem for the maker of the quilt. In some ways I almost have to admire those who aren't as picky as I am. I have a very good friend who just laughs it off when she makes an error. She can also make probably three quilts to my one.

You gals are so funny!!! Loved hearing your stories. Anyone who sews at all gets good use out of a seam ripper. I used to make my own clothes in the 60s and I don't think we had seam rippers back then. That electric seam ripper looks pretty cool.

I know someone said it already but don't beat yourself up. It's all part of the process especially if it is going to cause problems as you continue. Sometimes I rip because I know it isn't going to be as I imagined it if I continue with it as is. When I started quilting, I invested in a new seam ripper with a cushioned grip when JAF had a 60 percent off their notions wall. The next year I bought a second one when the sale came along again so I could keep one by the machine and one where I did handwork.

We can always unsew. We can never un-rotary cut!