Sandra in Minnesota

I was watching our Channel 2 which was a very interesting documentary on the Inuite people and how they live. These are the Alaskan native people. They use everything to its fullest because these villages are so remote and most everything is flown into their village. One scene was a group of ladies and girls sewing on two new Singer sewing machines and two 12 year old girls taking apart and snow suit to reuse. Instead of a seam ripper they were using a vegetable slicer -the one with a handle and a curved blade at the bottom. It must have been sharpened quite well because they had this thing down to a science. They were ripping away like crazy! So, next time use lose your seam ripper, there is an alternative.

lynnie

i love hearing things like this. another culture using a simple machine in different way. thanks.

QuiltnNan

very interesting, thanks for sharing

tranum

I believe they were using their ”Ulu”. Used by Alaskans everywhere for everything & recently manufactured commercially for sale to tourists. I have one and love it.

carolynjo

I have a similar tool, from Armenia, given to me years ago by a dear friend.

Onebyone

My DD lived with the native people for a few months when she was in Alaska on a medical contract. She was given many items made from antlers and bones only legal for the native Alaskans to make. The Ulu knife she gave me made with an antler handle has been the best kitchen tool I have. I can see how it would be a great seam ripper but never thought of using it that way. The Ulu knife is used for everything in Alaska.

grannie cheechee

I can remember using a razor blade when I sewed clothes for the family. I think I saw on Eleanor Burns used her rotary cutter.

Jingle

Just proves my favorite saying, "never just one way to do anything".

mac

Wow, I just looked up 'Ulu knife" and it is huge. I can't believe that they can use it on delicate fabric as a seam ripper. They must be really talented. I could see me slice my whole quilt with that thing in one swipe. LOL

RuthiesRetreat3

That vegetable slicer is a ulu, the classic Eskimo knife. It is kept extremely sharp, as they use it for cutting apart whales, walruses, etc.