Quilt Construction

Step 5 How to use a seam ripper

I'm not sure where this fits, but at some point you might need to take out a seam. That's when you pull out the seam ripper (see photo for what this tool looks like) This tool is designed to take out stitches without damaging the fabric.

I actually don't know the "real" way to use this tool but this is what has been working for me for a decade.

For quilt squares, since you didn't back stitch, you can gently start to pull apart the fabric pieces at the end. Use your left hand to hold them apart while using your right hand to push the seam ripper through the line of stitching. The red ball should go under the fabric and ride along the bottom of the stitches and the sharp edge inside the "u" of the ripper cuts the stitches.

The sharp point is only used from the top of the fabric to cut individual stitches.

Comments

[whatarebirds]

Thank you! You have just saved me countless hours. I never knew quite what that ball was for and have been using one of these for years.