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Author Topic: seam rippers  (Read 360 times)

Rho

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seam rippers
« on: December 05, 2020, 09:16:10 pm »
The other day I was using mine and thinking that I must have bought that sucker in 1984.
Do seam rippers ever wear out?
It rips thread O.K. but I have no idea if  a new one would be better.

How often do YOU replace yours?
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Dazi

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2020, 09:42:23 pm »
I have one that was my Nana's that is probably a good 60 years old and also a fairly new one. Thet work exactly the same. The only difference is the newer one has a plastic grip??? 🤷
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HenrysMom

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2020, 03:31:58 am »
I actually broke one once, I was trying to undo a seam of several layers of denim and snap!
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Aleko

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2020, 03:47:55 am »
I do tend to break the storage cap, usually by treading on it by accident, but the tool itself, never.

BTW, if you’re ever this side of the Pond and need to buy one, it’s called a ‘stitch ripper’ over here.
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vintagegal

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2020, 07:03:22 am »
I learned the hard way, do not use them to pry up the metal plate on the sewing machine to get to the bobbin.
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bridalviolet

Re: seam rippers
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2020, 07:26:01 am »
I used to work at an alterations shop and we did a lot of ripping, hence we went through seam rippers fairly quickly. They do dull in time. Every few months the boss would get a new batch for us, and we would come in to find notes taped to our sewing machines: "Caution! New seam rippers. They are SHARP!"
It does make a difference, because I have been ripping merrily down a seam with a new one and veered over into the fabric before I knew it. Disaster!
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VorFemme

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2020, 09:22:29 am »
The sharp curve between the points can and will dull...and one or both points may break off (catching in fabric, falling, or some such thing).  I have probably five of them around the sewing room (some sewing machines come with a small one in the "kit") and one wooden one with a ripper at one end and an awl at the other...I hate having to LOOK for a tool when I need it & I have several machines...serger, cover stitch, vintage sewing machine, quilt machine (wider work area), and an embroidery machine...or two...or three.  I can't get rid of the present from DH!  Even if the newer ones are the ones that I use the most (has to do with the stitches & the size of the hoops).

It's our 45th anniversary today - so keeping the embroidery machine that was a present five or six years ago is still important to me.  Now, if I have to downsize because we move in a few years, I will admit that it is probably going to be the first one on the "sell or donate" table.  Depending on how much downsizing has to be done...it won't be the last...but after a couple of machines, it gets harder to pick on NOT to keep. 
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TootsNYC

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2020, 02:00:58 pm »
I did have one that I thought got dull. (Happened to my favorite carrot peeler too, though that made more sense because it had been years.) I don't think I really ripped out all that many seams; I think it was just never that sharp.

But generally I lose them long before that happens.

My problem with seam ripper is finding one that lets you put the cap on the other end while you're working, so you don't lose it.
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TootsNYC

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2020, 02:03:31 pm »
Quote from: HenrysMom on December 06, 2020, 03:31:58 am
I actually broke one once, I was trying to undo a seam of several layers of denim and snap!

I broke one once a long time ago--denim as well.
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TootsNYC

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Re: seam rippers
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2020, 02:05:52 pm »
Quote
(some sewing machines come with a small one in the "kit")

The one that came in my kit looks like a seam ripper, but it's not.
It's a buttonhole cutter. Both points are VERY sharp, as is the curve, and it doesn't have the little ball on one point.

Speaking of that little ball, I realized that sometimes you can use the ball to open up the seam ahead of the cutting curve, and just zip down the seam. I don't like to do it, though, because there's just too much risk.
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bridalviolet

Re: seam rippers
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2020, 08:08:36 am »
Quote from: VorFemme on December 06, 2020, 09:22:29 am
The sharp curve between the points can and will dull...and one or both points may break off (catching in fabric, falling, or some such thing).  I have probably five of them around the sewing room (some sewing machines come with a small one in the "kit") and one wooden one with a ripper at one end and an awl at the other...I hate having to LOOK for a tool when I need it & I have several machines...serger, cover stitch, vintage sewing machine, quilt machine (wider work area), and an embroidery machine...or two...or three.  I can't get rid of the present from DH!  Even if the newer ones are the ones that I use the most (has to do with the stitches & the size of the hoops).

It's our 45th anniversary today - so keeping the embroidery machine that was a present five or six years ago is still important to me.  Now, if I have to downsize because we move in a few years, I will admit that it is probably going to be the first one on the "sell or donate" table.  Depending on how much downsizing has to be done...it won't be the last...but after a couple of machines, it gets harder to pick on NOT to keep.

Happy Anniversary! 45 years is quite an accomplishment.
Mr. bridalviolet and I are coming up on our 25th in a few days.
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Jayhawk

Re: seam rippers
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2020, 03:35:08 pm »
I have one that was part of the kit I got to take home ec in 7th grade. Probably 1971? I scratched my name in the turquoise plastic handle. The clear lid is long gone.
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