Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

A Little Set Back

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You may think at first glance that this photo is the same one I showed yesterday, of my All Wrapped Up quilt.  Nope.  I discovered when my side borders didn't fit that I had left out three 2 1/2 inch lattice strips that go under the top three rows of presents.  Argh.  It seemed like such a random pattern direction, to add in those three strips, but there you are.  Read the directions.

I wasted a nap time sewing session (I sew while my granddaughter naps) enthusiastically using my seam ripper.  Actually I use my rotary cutter to rip out long seams.  It is an acquired skill, and I am pretty good at it.  Lots of practice, lol.   I would love to show you how I do it, but I would need three hands, one to hold the camera and two to do the ripping.  One of these days maybe I can get a family member to take pictures or a video while I show you how to rip out seams with a rotary cutter.  It is a great method, very fast, and I have never accidently ruined my fabric by ripping it instead of the seam.

At any rate, it was a zen like sewing break.  Me ripping away, then re-sewing all those seams.  It was ok.  It just feels so good to be up in my sewing room that I don't really care what I am doing!

So, here is a little tip for you all.  Maybe someone can benefit from it sometime when they have a gazillion little threads to pick out.

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For me, after the disappointment that I have sewed something and now have to rip it out wraps around my brain, I know I am going to have to deal with all those nasty little threads in the seam line.  I have found that if I use a pair of tweezers to pull out those teensy thread bits the process goes much much faster.  Try it!  You zoom along that seam line pulling out those little buggers, and it is oddly satisfying.

26 responses to “A Little Set Back”

  1. I`m feeling you pain as I just had something similar happen with a project packed away for months had an error that may have been the reason it was shut away. Oh well, I have a scalpel-like ripper that I use only on these occasions and I was in a better frame of mind to repair and resew this time. I also have a sticky clothing lint roller that I use after the tweezers for quick removal of all the tell-tale threads. Your quilt be beautiful!

  2. I`m feeling you pain as I just had something similar happen with a project packed away for months had an error that may have been the reason it was shut away. Oh well, I have a scalpel-like ripper that I use only on these occasions and I was in a better frame of mind to repair and resew this time. I also have a sticky clothing lint roller that I use after the tweezers for quick removal of all the tell-tale threads. Your quilt be beautiful!

  3. I think I actually like your quilt better without the lattice strips. Of course you wouldn’t have room for any lovely quilting without them.

  4. I think I actually like your quilt better without the lattice strips. Of course you wouldn’t have room for any lovely quilting without them.

  5. Nicole, at least I know I am in good company being a frog. Rip-It. I use the seam ripper and a little pair of scissors. I actually don’t rip the whole seam, I pull out a few stitches and then pull the bottom, (bobbin) thread until I can pull no more. Make sure you don’t tear your fingers, but, then I clip it, pull it, and ta dah, the top thread is undone and no little threads.

  6. Nicole, at least I know I am in good company being a frog. Rip-It. I use the seam ripper and a little pair of scissors. I actually don’t rip the whole seam, I pull out a few stitches and then pull the bottom, (bobbin) thread until I can pull no more. Make sure you don’t tear your fingers, but, then I clip it, pull it, and ta dah, the top thread is undone and no little threads.

  7. Phooey! I’d just completed a post and hit “close” instead of back to get back to the blog from the enlarged photo. Duh! Can you tell I’ve not had coffee yet?
    As I had written …
    Into each quilter’s and seamstress’ life, some unsewing comes whether welcome or not. Cheers for having a speedy method for clipping the threads and those wonderful tweezers for puling the tiny threads out. Love that you found it a zen thing to do rather than kicking yourself endlessly.
    Love the quilt and it will be so worth the care you’re taking to do it right.
    Yet another day of cold rain here.
    Hugs!

  8. Phooey! I’d just completed a post and hit “close” instead of back to get back to the blog from the enlarged photo. Duh! Can you tell I’ve not had coffee yet?
    As I had written …
    Into each quilter’s and seamstress’ life, some unsewing comes whether welcome or not. Cheers for having a speedy method for clipping the threads and those wonderful tweezers for puling the tiny threads out. Love that you found it a zen thing to do rather than kicking yourself endlessly.
    Love the quilt and it will be so worth the care you’re taking to do it right.
    Yet another day of cold rain here.
    Hugs!

  11. Oh No ! I hate when that happens. I am sure you will have all of that ripped out and have your quilt done in no time ! Just love those Christmas present blocks !

  12. Oh No ! I hate when that happens. I am sure you will have all of that ripped out and have your quilt done in no time ! Just love those Christmas present blocks !

  13. There is a fairly new seam ripper with a beehive shaped rubber end on the cap called ‘Seam-fix.’ It works like a pencil eraser & makes getting those pesky little threads out so much easier! I actually used it as my show ‘n tell at the quilt retreat I attended in October!! It’s THAT good!!

  14. There is a fairly new seam ripper with a beehive shaped rubber end on the cap called ‘Seam-fix.’ It works like a pencil eraser & makes getting those pesky little threads out so much easier! I actually used it as my show ‘n tell at the quilt retreat I attended in October!! It’s THAT good!!

  17. I agree with Jan, the rubber tipped ripper is a great tool for getting rid of those bits of thread. I bought mine last year and have had to use it once…well okay, maybe more than once , but it is worth the 6 dollars.
    I think I may have left the quilt “sashingless” and just shortened the borders, especially when quilting time is so precious. It is very festive though and sure made up quickly!

  18. I agree with Jan, the rubber tipped ripper is a great tool for getting rid of those bits of thread. I bought mine last year and have had to use it once…well okay, maybe more than once , but it is worth the 6 dollars.
    I think I may have left the quilt “sashingless” and just shortened the borders, especially when quilting time is so precious. It is very festive though and sure made up quickly!

  21. Who among us has NOT ripped out yards and yards of stitching? For long straight seams, I use a man’s mustache trimmer, a trick I learned from a quilt teacher. Works like a charm!

  22. Who among us has NOT ripped out yards and yards of stitching? For long straight seams, I use a man’s mustache trimmer, a trick I learned from a quilt teacher. Works like a charm!