Ripping out seams in dark fabrics
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Ripping out seams in dark fabrics Sarah Doyle 03-17-2008
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Posted by Sarah Doyle on March 17, 2008, 4:24 am
Last week while sewing a black dress I sewed a seam in error. ARGH!!!
Ripping out seams in itself is a chore, but in dark fabrics (in this case
black) is next to impossible. I immediately went to my stack of hint and
tips books to see what I could find that would be helpful. I found TWO
hints that actually saved my sanity, and I'd like to pass them along to
you. "Ripping out a seamline on dark fabrics is almost impossible to do.
If you run a tailors chalk line down the seam line, you'll be able to see
the stitches much better", and then "an old soft toothbrush will be a big
help in removing thread ends that remain after ripping out a seam" AND
gets rid of the tailors chalk line. Figured I might not be the only one
that makes mistakes while sewing and has to start ripping seams.


-------------------------------------
Sarah Doyle

Visit my personal weblog
http://SarahJDoyle.com




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Posted by Mary Fisher on March 17, 2008, 12:55 pm

> Last week while sewing a black dress I sewed a seam in error. ARGH!!!
> Ripping out seams in itself is a chore, but in dark fabrics (in this case
> black) is next to impossible. I immediately went to my stack of hint and
> tips books to see what I could find that would be helpful. I found TWO
> hints that actually saved my sanity, and I'd like to pass them along to
> you. "Ripping out a seamline on dark fabrics is almost impossible to do.
> If you run a tailors chalk line down the seam line, you'll be able to see
> the stitches much better", and then "an old soft toothbrush will be a big
> help in removing thread ends that remain after ripping out a seam" AND
> gets rid of the tailors chalk line. Figured I might not be the only one
> that makes mistakes while sewing and has to start ripping seams.

I hope I remember that, thanks,

Mary
>
>
> -------------------------------------
> Sarah Doyle
>
> Visit my personal weblog
> http://SarahJDoyle.com
>
>
>
>
> ##-----------------------------------------------##
> Delivered via http://www.sewgirls.com/
> Sewing Community of the Net
> Web and RSS access to your favorite newsgroup -
> alt.sewing - 29614 messages and counting!
> ##-----------------------------------------------##



Posted by Taria on March 17, 2008, 1:40 pm
I remember my mil commenting about how she did alterations on
dark stuff during daylight hours because she just couldn't see
well enough at night. I didn't understand until my eyes got
'old' too. I'll try the chalk next time I need to rip out
on dark fabric. I know there will be a next time.
Thanks Sarah,
Taria

Sarah Doyle wrote:

> Last week while sewing a black dress I sewed a seam in error. ARGH!!!
> Ripping out seams in itself is a chore, but in dark fabrics (in this case
> black) is next to impossible. I immediately went to my stack of hint and
> tips books to see what I could find that would be helpful. I found TWO
> hints that actually saved my sanity, and I'd like to pass them along to
> you. "Ripping out a seamline on dark fabrics is almost impossible to do.
> If you run a tailors chalk line down the seam line, you'll be able to see
> the stitches much better", and then "an old soft toothbrush will be a big
> help in removing thread ends that remain after ripping out a seam" AND
> gets rid of the tailors chalk line. Figured I might not be the only one
> that makes mistakes while sewing and has to start ripping seams.
>
>
> -------------------------------------
> Sarah Doyle
>
> Visit my personal weblog
> http://SarahJDoyle.com
>
>
>
>
> ##-----------------------------------------------##
> Delivered via http://www.sewgirls.com/
> Sewing Community of the Net
> Web and RSS access to your favorite newsgroup -
> alt.sewing - 29614 messages and counting!
> ##-----------------------------------------------##


Posted by gjones2938 on March 17, 2008, 1:58 pm
Dear Sarah,

Here's another tip for ripping seams--dark or light. Grasp the thread
end, and pull it until it breaks. Turn the work over and do the same
with the other thread. You don't have any thread whiskers to pull out
when you're done. And if you're working on delicate or vintage
fabric, use a seam ripper at right angles to the seam, and clip one
thread. Then proceed as above. I learned that when doing museum
conservation work on historic clothing. Clipping the thread every two
or three inches makes it very easy to pull out with no damage to the
fabric.

I NEVER use a seam ripper to cut through stitches--it's much too
dangerous.

Oh, and another thing. If you try this technique and the stitches are
too hard to pull out, your stitch count is smaller than it needs to
be. Make the stitches larger, so they're easier to pull out.

Teri

Posted by Sarah Doyle on March 17, 2008, 11:36 am
Sarah Doyle had written this in response to
http://www.sewgirls.com/sewing/Re-Ripping-out-seams-in-dark-fabrics-30605-.htm
:

gjones2938 wrote:


> Dear Sarah,

> Here's another tip for ripping seams--dark or light. Grasp the thread
> end, and pull it until it breaks. Turn the work over and do the same
> with the other thread. You don't have any thread whiskers to pull out
> when you're done. And if you're working on delicate or vintage
> fabric, use a seam ripper at right angles to the seam, and clip one
> thread. Then proceed as above. I learned that when doing museum
> conservation work on historic clothing. Clipping the thread every two
> or three inches makes it very easy to pull out with no damage to the
> fabric.

> I NEVER use a seam ripper to cut through stitches--it's much too
> dangerous.

> Oh, and another thing. If you try this technique and the stitches are
> too hard to pull out, your stitch count is smaller than it needs to
> be. Make the stitches larger, so they're easier to pull out.

> Teri

You have a great idea of pulling a thread until it breaks, etc. I hadn't
thought of doing that. And I also never use a seam ripper to cut through
stitches - it's way to dangerous! Thanks for the extra tip!

-------------------------------------
Sarah Doyle

Visit my personal weblog
http://SarahJDoyle.com




##-----------------------------------------------##
Delivered via http://www.sewgirls.com/
Sewing Community of the Net
Web and RSS access to your favorite newsgroup -
alt.sewing - 29632 messages and counting!
##-----------------------------------------------##

Page 1 of 5       1 2 3 > last >>
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