Our Guide To Removing Stitches Without A Seam Ripper

Whether you want to correct some faulty stitches in some fabric, re-purpose an item or do a repair job on some sewing stitches, you might not have a seam ripper on hand to help you get rid of this stubborn stitches. 

To undo seam stitches without this nifty tool, you will need an alternative like a straight needle and some scissors which have a sharp fabric blade and pull them out one by one with your hands.

We’ve discussed in more detail below what a seam ripper is, other tools you can use as a seam ripper and how to remove stubborn stitches without the handy tool.

What Is A Seam Ripper & When To Use One

Before we get into how to remove layers of thread from an item, let’s first discuss what a seam ripper is and when to use it as you can see if it’s worth buying this sharp tool in the future. 

A seam ripper is great for removing standard zig zag stitches in materials and a regular seam for a fast job, seam ripper can be more difficult to use however when we are trying to remove tough stitching which has been reinforced.

This could be in layers of fabric or in thick fabrics, a seam ripper doesn’t work as well since it’s too big to get under the stitches.

What Else Can I Use As A Seam Ripper?

If you don’t have a seam ripper on hand to remove stitches with, don’t panic, there are plenty of other standard tools which can be used as a replacement without damaging the fabric. 

We’ve listed some to help you out below. 

• Pair of fabric scissors.
• Embroidery scissors. 
• Straight pin/needle. 
• Thread snipper.

Our Step By Step Guide To Removing Stitches Without A Seam Ripper 

Now we know all about what a seam ripper tool is, when to use one and alternative tools you can use in the house, let’s get into the step by step on how to remove stitches with ease. 

1. Prepare the item of clothing for ripping by turning it inside out and figure out where the seam stitch starts in the piece of clothing, you will have an easier time with stitch removal from the start. 
2. Cut each stitch one by one through the middle, don’t be tempted to rip the whole seam out with a sharp blade otherwise this can damage the garment.
3. Remove your stitch from each part by pulling the thread tails loosely, any resistance then move on to the next thread loop, using a straight needle to help loosen layers of thread. 
4. For the end of the seam on your fabric this is where you will struggle the most, try to use some sharp fabric scissors or a razor blade to help loosen the intact thread and pull the thread tails to undo the stitching.

How Do I Use A Seam Ripper To Remove Stitches?

If you’ve decided to cut the hassle and simply buy yourself a seam ripper, you might be wondering how you use one to get rid of stitches in items. 

1. Take your fabric and hold it with seam facing you, pull the fabric to expose each stitch then take your seam ripper with the pointy end and loop it under the thread. 
2. Make sure you are only catching the thread and not the fabric then gently pull so as the stitch will reach the curve on the seam ripper and slice through, repeat for each stitch in the seam. 
3. For a longer seam with lots of stitches, repeat the steps above for a few then take a small ball in between the two fabrics, holding one side with the left and the other with the right, pull the fabric towards and the seam ripper away while it’s inserted into a stitch. 
4. The blade and tension should then cut through all of the stitches with ease, saving you time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Undoing Sewing Stitches With No Seam Ripper

Why are reinforced sewing stitches harder to remove? 

Reinforced stitches are harder to remove because they have multiple layers and are intended to be very strong if they are holding thick fabrics in a garment together. This thickness also makes it harder for the seam ripper to slide underneath without hooking the fabric by accident and causing damage.

How to get rid of old noticeable stitch marks in material?

You can use a spray of water to help expand fibers in material and cover the hole or rub the material and scrape it gently around the hole with a spoon.

Why does fabric rips when removing stitches?

This could be from catching the fabric underneath by accident or pulling on the stitches inside too fast.

Are embroidery threads harder to remove?

Due to the complicated patterns, yes, embroidery stitches can be harder to remove, but, with time and following the method above with a seam ripper, you should be able to get all the stitches out.

Last Words

Overall, a seam ripper can be very helpful when remove zig-zag stitches from material and is a great tool to lift stitches fast without the risk of damaging the material underneath. 

However, any sharp tool like fabric scissors can also work for the job and might be more appropriate if your dealing with very thick stitches where the seam ripper might struggle to slide underneath.