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As Ye Sew, So Shall Ye Rip…

It happens.  We all loose our way some times.  And we all reach for the seam ripper.  I remember the way I was taught to use a seam ripper, and it was all slow and tedious and you had to take the whole seam out because you’re not supposed to backtack in the middle, and yadda yadda.  That’s fine.  Great.  Awesome.  Because I just love picking out seams.  (Actually, oddly, I really do enjoy that these days.  It’s calming.  Just not so much when I’m in a hurry.)

When I’m in a hurry, my goal is to pick out as few stitches as possible to make things right.  For example:

The other day, I did this.  Two stitches, clearly into the body on a princess line.  In half scale.  Mistakes magnify in importance when you work teensy.
The other day, I did this. Two stitches, clearly into the body on a princess line. In half scale. Mistakes magnify in importance when you work teensy.
And this is kind of a big deal for me, because I'm sewing in a high contrast thread for a demo.  You can clearly see a black dot.  And I don't want my class getting the impression that sloppy is ever ok.
And this is kind of a big deal for me, because I’m sewing in a high contrast thread for a demo. You can clearly see a black dot. And I don’t want my class getting the impression that sloppy is ever ok.
Instead of reaching for the seam ripper, I start out by sewing a (really much nicer) line of stitching that starts and ends on the existing line.  If you overlap by about an inch, you don't need to backtack this.
Instead of reaching for the seam ripper, I start out by sewing a (really much nicer) line of stitching that starts and ends on the existing line. If you overlap by about an inch, you don’t need to backtack this.
I've snipped the offending threads on the body side of the new join.  The threads on the seam allowance side are only a problen for me if I decide to press the seam open, so I've just decided not to do that. I'll press all the seams as though I plan to topstitch them.
I’ve snipped the offending threads on the body side of the new join. The threads on the seam allowance side are only a problen for me if I decide to press the seam open, so I’ve just decided not to do that. I’ll press all the seams as though I plan to topstitch them.

 

And on the outside, it looks much better.
And on the outside, it looks much better.

Time to fix: < 2 minutes.  Estimated time to rip and resew: 5-7 minutes.  Estimated time to find a seam ripper?  Unknown.  ;)

 

 

2 Comments

  1. Elizabeth
    Elizabeth February 23, 2014

    Ah, I discovered this long ago for offensive looking curved seams like princess lines, necklines and armholes that are going to be pressed in one direction. Grade the seam a bit for less bulk and clip for a smoother press.

    • missa
      missa February 24, 2014

      Hi, Elizabeth – great points on the grading and the pressing! That was done as part of the finished vest. This was just a quickie “I really wish someone had shown me this years ago!” moment. ;)

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