Admittedly, I’m a gadget girl. We have a page full of gadget-y links. I love to try new things just to see how they work, and lots of those things, disappointingly, fail to rise the level of share-worthiness. But not this one!
There is no sewing without a seam ripper. Well, there’s sewing, but only to a point. Scissors don’t cut it for long. (Ha! Okay. Not that funny. Let’s pretend.) It’s a basic tool that’s included in even the cheapie dollar store sewing kits because we all need it sooner or later. Or all the time.
I wanted to try this one (affiliate link) just because it looked different, and possibly more efficient, than the pointy one I’d been using. Holy moly, there are a lot of options out there. (Because I’m a gadget girl, if you have another you love I’m happy to check it out too, just leave your link in the comments.) This scalpel-like one promises efficiency with a bit of adrenaline rush. Will-I-or-won’t-I-need-stitches? In reality, I find it less scary than the pointy basic kind, because I haven’t accidentally poked myself.
It’s as great for straight stitches as a regular ripper, and it’s really REALLY great on knit serged edges because it doesn’t poke into the knit fabric as you slide a long, which annoys me with regular seam rippers. Funny that I find this a useful complement to a serger, which I’d say is another contender for scariest sewing tool. (But so seductively useful.)
So, yeah. The bad news is I have some seam ripping to do today. It’s what happens when I sew with “helpers” close by. The good news is that it reminded me to share this guy. Whose name is Jack, of course. As far as a detailed description, he’s about 3.5″ long and very lightweight and a little flexible. I keep him in his little sleeve on the magnetic board closest to my sewing machine, out of reach of little fingers.
the holes in the non-scary part look like they are in want of a custom handle…
i put enough holes in fabric with my non-surgical-grade seam rippers, i can’t see being trusted with that beast.
There are a few other similar ones that involve handles– one that even comes with five blades. I figured I’d start with the $4 trial and see where that got me. For real, I’ve injured myself less with this than I did with the pokey sharp tip kind! And on serged seams, I’m done a whole lot faster. Now I need a vacuum attachment that sucks up all the cut threads. I’m gadget addicted.
i do love my scalpel seam ripper too.
i use this one from havels: http://www.amazon.com/Havels-Ultra-Pro-Seam-Ripper/dp/B0006V1TBM
the blades are so cheap and it makes short work of all my mistake fixing.
Ooh, that one could be next! This one has lasted two years. But probably one of those situations where as soon as I try a new sharp blade I’ll wish I’d done it sooner!
I have the one by Havels – I’m never going back!!!
This is my favorite seam ripper ever! I have nicked myself once or twice but that was during 3 am sewing marathons. It’s also good for splitting threads between blocks when chain piecing quilts. Love love love!
Thanks for sharing this. My five year old got hold of my sewing machine and put a fancy (read hard to remove) stitch in some lovely fabric of mine. I’m having a hard time ripping it out with my regular seam ripper. I might have to upgrade.
Ouch. Yes, I think this’d help. I’ve never accidentally cut the fabric like I have with the pointy kind.
I might have to get one of these. I had someone recommend just a regular box cutter blade instead of a seam ripper. I might be able to wield this one a little easier.
Yikes! Yes, this is definitely safer and easier to handle than that! Also less scary around the littles. As scary as it looks, a jab with it actually wouldn’t accomplish much. Not so with a box cutter. Oy.
JACK THE (seam) RIPPER! AHHAHAHHAHA You rule
:)
I have used mine for the first time. I am in love. Mine has a retractable blade and I recommend this. No “hunt for the top”.
That’s a great feature!