Lyncat

I just do whatever works best at the time. Yesterday I was walking around the house removing some stitching and my DH said, "You seem to use that thing a lot!" I practiced self-control... I did not use it on him!!

DebraK

haha, oh my!

hairquilt

I had a very long strip that I had to rip & I took my DH mustache trimmer & it just ripped thru it like butter but lots of picking threads to it. Still way faster that way & a lint roller helps a lot!

Tartan

I prefer a pair of sharp curved blade snips to cut the thread every few stitches. I then pull the thread on the opposite side and it comes right off. I find this method much kinder to the fabric and I have less distortion when I resew the seam.

Terri D.

Interesting. I have trouble using a seam ripper so I use a tapestry needle with a blunt point to rip out my stitches.

SueSew

Agreed! Same for using those curved scalpels. I bought one at a quilt show and can't use it - too likely to twitch and send it into the fabric!

sewwhat85

I have used both ways also and agree that it is easier to rip the fabric the second way. I am very surprised no one has suggested the easiest way to rip sew with no bobbin. HA HA HA I do that all the time

ghostrider

I lift the stitches from the top until the thread starts to 'drag'. I then cut it with embroidery scissors and start again. I can usually get 4" or more of stitching out before cutting the thread. I never saw the point of putting a 3 stitch limit on the process so I just go as far as I can without resistance. No wasted time, no short threads, and especially no cut or stretched fabric. I use the blade of my seam ripper so infrequently that it's still as sharp as when I first got it with my 1989 Viking.

I haven't ripped 'between' since I stopped making clothes, and back then (1960's) I used a single edged razor blade for that. Bear in mind that seam rippers used to look like this:



and came with a needle threader on the other end.

Dolphyngyrl

I have done both, I would just try both and see what you prefer as there is no right or wrong way, just the way that works best for you

Jeanne S

Fabric stretching is the problem I have encountered with the "between the seams" method. I have better luck with the first method--just keeping the seam flat and cutting every 3rd stitch, then just pulling the two fabric pieces gently apart.