Sewing Tips | Ripping a Serged Seam

Seam ripping is something all sewists do. Most hate it, some love it. 

Wherever you are on that scale I think we can all agree that ripping a serged seam or a coverstitch out really sucks.

Here is my current favorite way to rip a serged seam apart...if I take the time to do it. It's not beyond me to just cut the fucker off and live with the consequences.

I'm NOT above that. 

Okay, sometimes I am. Like, if the project is for woven fabric (not our beloved knits) then that seam allowance is suuuuper fucking important and not to be messed with.

Anyway, let's get on with it shall we.

Step 1. Cut the tails off. If your seam is in a circle you'll still have at least one tail so cut that bitch off like a drunk at closing time.

Step 2. Identify the needle threads. I have highlighted mine in red and I changed the fabric because blue on red is hard as fuck to see, right? 

The needle threads are the straight stitches. 

Stay away from those looper threads.

We're going to pull the needle threads out and then the looper threads will fall away like my hopes and dreams.

I kid, I have hope, more now than in the past 4 years. And I have dreams, like I dream that you're going to try this and it's going to make ripping a serged seam way easier than ever before for you.

Step 3. Take your seam ripper and just pop the needle threads out.

YOU'RE NOT CUTTING THE THREADS, TIGER! You are trying to create a tail (2 tails, actually) that are long enough for you to get your mitts on and then you're gonna ripped that asshole right out of there!

Step 4. Okay, now pick one of the threads and pull it out.

The fabric may start to gather. If this happens and the thread can't clear then cut the thread at that spot with your seam ripper. 

If your seam is quite long you may benefit from cutting the needle threads every 10" of so. That way you're not having to pull a huge distance all at once.

You do you, find what works for you.

Step 5. Once you get that fucker out then pull the other needle thread out.

Step 6. Your looper threads are now free. Dust them off like dirt off your shoulder, you're done.

I had a video clip of this cus it's so satisfying buuuut...I couldn't add it to the blog. You'll just have to use your imagination, my friend.