If you've ever read a women's magazine in your life, you've probably come across one of those articles that tells you how often to replace your various cosmetics. And if you've subscribed to as many useless women's magazines in your life as I have, you've seen waaaay more of these articles than you would care to admit. You would know that you're supposed to replace your mascara every three months, for instance. But if you're anything like me, you would replace it every other year and then constantly worry that your failure to replace it every three months is surely going to cause you to blind yourself with contaminated mascara.Anyway, does anyone know how often you're supposed to replace your seam ripper? I only replace them when I've broken mine by doing something terribly inappropriate with it, like using it as a staple remover. (That doesn't work, in case you're curious.) But I recently happened to get a brand new seam ripper with the purchase of my new sewing machine. (Another aside: why do sewing machines come with seam rippers? Doesn't that seem like something you should have to provide on your own, like how you have to bring your own thread and pins and such to the party?)
ANYWAY. I received this new seam ripper, right? And it's fantastic. It rips through seams like nobody's business. I can't believe how sharp it is. I've been doing a fair bit of seam ripping on my background dress muslin and the new seam ripper makes such a difference, readers. Every time I use it, I get this overwhelming sense of happiness.
I'm sure this is partly a testament to how having quality tools can completely change the sewing experience. But I think it also has to do with the tactile rewards of sewing. Sometimes it's the simple sensory mechanics that I like best: the whir of the machine's motor, the crisp sound of scissors cutting, the feel of thread running through beeswax. And yes, the excellent slicing of a seam ripper into a misplaced stitch. Bliss.
So, you know, go replace your seam ripper! It's a rush, man.
I love my Clover seam ripper (we call them unpickers where I come from).
ReplyDeleteI'd never really thought of this before, but my seam ripper is getting quite dull now that you mention it. Perhaps I'll splash out on a new one!
ReplyDeleteHa, I love this! I was just thinking this last night as I was struggling with my seam ripper (which definitely sees a lot of action). I get my scissors sharpened why not make sure my seam ripper blade is sharp? I actually asked my hubby if he thought I could get a seam ripper sharpened. (yes, I know for out the $2 for a new one don't even think about sharpening it)
ReplyDeletethanks for the reminder!
Contaminated mascara! Ha! This post was so funny I read it to the H and he pretended to be amused.
ReplyDeleteHow did you try and remove the staple? I've gotten it to work by taking out the back prongs first by slowly pulling at each side. Once they're straight its easy to pull from the front. Ok. I KNOW I shouldn't use my ripper this way but sometimes staples need to be removed just like stitches.
ReplyDeleteI never have to worry about my quick-unpicks getting blunt because I have a terrible habit of losing them :S Does anyone else have this problem? They turn up in the weirdest places!
ReplyDeleteI used mine to help remove flakey paint on my stairs, it's never been the same since, maybe it's time to replace. Mascara every 3 months, ha! that would ruin the fun of seeing how long I can make it last...
ReplyDeleteWow. I never thought I'd see a blog post that celebrates the seam ripper. Instrument of torture invented by evil genius, as far as I'm concerned, usually employed when it's All Going Wrong.
ReplyDeleteSnap! I'm going out to buy a new one today (and some fabric, natch...) because i've lost my good one and the bad one should be called a seam-tugger. It came with a cheapo sewing kit and boy, do you get what you pay for!
ReplyDeleteOooo I'm going to treat myself to a new one for Easter :) I can't find my good one so I've been hacking at things with my old one. This has spurred me on to just get a new one! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteLottie x
I may be able to shed some light on why you got a seam ripper with your machine.
ReplyDeleteI just got my very old Husqvarna back from service and decided to actually read through the manual to see what accessories were meant to come with the machine (I got it second hand and it was missing the zipper foot among other bits). Anyway, listed among the "standard accessories" was a seam ripper, which was labelled "Buttonhole knife". Sure enough, the buttonhole instructions show the seam ripper opening up the buttonhole after sewing. Obviously it was seen as an essential bit of equipment to go with the buttonhole foot.
I have several seam rippers because they seem to have little legs and tend to wander off and (unfortunately)I always have to have one close to hand when I'm sewing!
ReplyDeleteChucking a mascara every three months - I wonder how are we supposed to keep track of this - make a diary note? put a date sticker on it? Too much effort.
Oddly enough, next time I go to the fabric store a new seam ripper is on my list! ;) Mine has finally gone kaput--which is unusual that it lasted this long. ;) My seam rippers usually get lost (or broken--I have the oddest knack for breaking the darn things!) long before they get dull. lol. Plus, sometimes I just use my little pointed thread snippers to aid in ripping stitches.
ReplyDelete♥ Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com
Ah ... useless women's magazines. My New Year's resolution was to stop buying them since the articles are recycled at a seemingly increasing rate. I don't know how many more times I can read the 'toss your mascara' article or find out the #1 diet secret that boils down to following a diet of whole grains, leafy greens, and lean meat and exercising regularly.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, like others here, my seam rippers have a tendency to get lost, so none of them have gotten down to the point where they're dull.
It's the little things, you know? When I manage to swing by Sil Thread in Manhattan, I always pick up a couple of new seam rippers. I think they cost about a dollar each, and they have them in a container at the checkout. Great reminder!
ReplyDeleteNever. I still have the seam rippers that I got when I got the only machine I've ever owned or needed in 1984. One came with the machine. My mother didn't know it came with one so she bought me another one. The rip fine. Maybe they should be sharpened periodically. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
ReplyDeleteThis will sound very bizarre. When I open a new mascara I scratch the number of the month when I need to replace it on the side of the mascara tube with....... you guessed it. My seam ripper.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little anal.
I have a bunch of the seam rippers like the one shown, but I also have one from Havel that I absolutely love: http://store.havelssewing.com/seamrippers1.html
ReplyDeleteThe blade is replaceable, which I love. It's sharper than normal ones.
Seam rippers are one of those items I say I have to achieve "critical mass" of. That is - I have to own so many of them that I can't lose them all. That said, I prefer the scalpal-like kind to the ones with the little safety ball like your photo. They're more dangerous, but they don't get dull. I like to live dangerously, at least when it comes to ripping seams!
ReplyDeleteI never seem to worry about having a dull seam ripper because I usually break one in 6 months! :D The mishap normally is caused by removing a nest full of stitches that I make when my fabric can't go threw the machine. Oh well, at least I'm keeping up with my seam ripper shopping!
ReplyDeleteRebekah
http://www.artandneedlework.blogspot.com
I know what you mean about that rippin' rush. It's especially thrilling when the ripper is new. What size ripper do you sewists prefer? I've found the smaller (cheaper) ones to be more satisfying when ripping small stitches. But the big ones are more expensive which leads me to believe they're supposed to be better. What's the deal?
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention this. I just bought a new one a few weeks ago because the one I had was my mom's and I'm sure it was probably 20 years old. I went on and on to my husband about how fantastic the new seam ripper was, even though he couldn't care less. It was a miracle!
ReplyDeleteI might as well buy seam rippers in bulk.
ReplyDeleteI can hear you asking "Why? You surely don't break them that much!" That would be true, except for the fact that I'm working with a toddler in the house. Toddlers are kleptomaniacs. I swear it's true. Mine has run off with six seam rippers in the that week. (This included my oldest and rattiest ones that I didn't know I still had!)
It was so bad that I just bought two new ones on Tuesday so that I can finish said toddler's Easter dress. Speaking on that, I need to go get the iron out to iron the skirt and the pintuck insert so that I can transfer pencil lines to them afterwards....
@Lydia, I followed your link and those sharp blades are actually a little scary! ;) Much more hardcore than your standard seam ripper with the friendly little red ball!
ReplyDeleteI indulged in a new one when I felt the first one I bought "tugged" more than ripped, and I love my new one. I always have better luck with Clover products rather than Dritz.
And get your scissors sharpened. There are few joys more....uh...joyful than cutting something with newly sharpened scissors and suddenly remembering how effortless they used to be.
ReplyDeleteSince I've never met a seam I couldn't re-do, I really should get a few more seam rippers. Mine tend to wander off, and I spend too much sewing time cursing and searching for them. I need them arranged on some kind of display for easy reach!
ReplyDeleteI don't think my mascara even lasts 3 months anymore before it globs up and goes dry. I guess the manufacturers are saving bucks like everyone else by putting less in the same priced package, but at least I won't be going blind. :-)
ReplyDeleteSeam rippers - I use the disposable Havel like in Lydia's link and OMG it's slicey-dicey heaven. I also have a few similar to the Havels from Nancy's Notions but they were recently discontinued. I like the blade type better than the typical seam ripper, especially for ripping out serger seams.
I long ago abandonned seam rippers. They take way too long. I'm a razor blade girl.
ReplyDeleteI think I replace mine about every year. They seem to get kind of dull. I save the old ones for removing the staples from button cards. And, truth to tell, I sometimes use a -- gasp! -- single-edge razor blade!
ReplyDeleteI have to ask, can seam rippers be sharpened, like scissors? I think that our disposable and replace-it era is coming to a close, but I agree that seam rippers work best when sharp. I'd rather just have my old one fixed rather than throw it away if possible.
ReplyDeletemelina bee
I'm thinking I should probable buy a new one, seeing as how I'm currently making buttonholes, and the auto buttonhole on my machine cocks up at least 1 in every three times..
ReplyDeleteI finally broke down and replaced my favorite seam ripper - I had replaced the tiny handle with a big one. I did get the big-handled one to replace it, but it also has a bigger point on it. So now I should get a new small ripper and re-do its handle. But yes a new sharp ripper is good.
ReplyDeleteI love my seam ripper, handy for so many more (inappropriate) tasks than just rrrrriiiipppping a seam. In fact I call mine "Jack", as in "Jack the Seam Ripper". :D
ReplyDeleteChristine D
I replace my seam ripper more often than I replace needles in my machine, sadly. (That's more a testament to the number of seams I tear out, though.) I've given up on traditional seam rippers - I now use a surgical scalpel with a curved blade. It melts through thread like a hot knife through butter. It's so sharp, if you push your finger against the tip, the skin parts and the blade doesn't move. (Ask me how I know...) Just have to be careful to not cut the fabric.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a giggle at the staple removal. I had just confessed on my blog that I used to ... ahem ... staple hems, before I could sew. I suspect, of course, that you were not using your seam ripper to remove staples from a garment!
ReplyDeleteYep-I guess it's time...thanks for the reminder :)
ReplyDeleteJana
I keep mascara until I loose it (2+ year usually) since I only use it about once a month.
ReplyDeleteI've had the same 2 seam rippers for 14 years (since I got my machine) and the lid on one is held together with masking tape.
I guess I should think about getting a new one. (I also only buy new pins because all the old ones are in pattern pieces I cut and never sewed up.
Did you know you should also replace your vegetable peeler every year or two?
Typical hook and safety ball seam rippers can't practically be sharpened. They can, but it's fiddly, and requires pretty specialized tools (a slip stone of just the right diameter, or a properly sized diamond file). I've done a couple (because I sharpen anything with an edge. I've sharpened my hammers.), but wouldn't do it on a regular basis.
ReplyDeletethe scalpel sort can be sharpened fairly easily, but aren't worth paying someone to do it.
This reminds me that I need to replace my seem rippers. I have 3, one of which is the blade type, but I've had them quite a while and I know the scalpel type is dull. It would seem to me that with a sharp seem ripper one would be less likely to push too hard and risk cutting into the garment fabric.
ReplyDeleteNever thought about this either, but a funny article. I never replace my mascara until it runs out. Sooo I probably won't replace by seam ripper until it breaks either (hope it doesn't break!!) seems ok 2 me for now. If mine was sharper I'd probably accidently make a hole in my fabric!!
ReplyDeleteHannah
Handmade Jewellery
http://surfjewels.000space.com
We call them seam wreckers in our kid's classes! I recommend replacing them once a year - we give a long handled Clover ripper to people who get a sewing machine & tell them to celebrate their sewing machine anniversary by getting a new one, plus of course a cupcake.
ReplyDeleteLike the other commenters, I also have never thought about improving my seam ripper! Though a sharper tool would make the task less painful. Mine has been 'borrowed' from my sister, as my original one (scalpel-like style) finally broke after being held together with masking tape. I must be hard on my seam rippers - ahh the frustration of having to undo and redo my work and waste valuable sewing time!
ReplyDeleteI just discoverd Threads magazine. This month's issue (May 2010) has a 4 page tutorial on 'Unsewing Like a Pro' which is actually very good. I had no idea but there's a world of tools and techniques to help you rip it, rip it good ;)
ReplyDeleteI know I'm late to the party here, but I just had to chime in that I don't even OWN a seam ripper! I started out as an upholstery seamstress in a shop where we used straight razor blades to cut apart seams that have gone awry. If there happened to be a particularly tricky or stubborn stitch, just grab a thick pin and pick it out. When I started garment sewing, I tried the seam ripper, but threw it away after fiddling (and failing) to use it. The razor blade is SO much faster. You just have to proceed with caution when slicing apart a delicate fabric. You definently have to replace them when dull but they're cheap - grab a 100 pack of them at the hardware store for $10.
ReplyDelete