• Do you count your seam ripper as your most important sewing tool? Me too.
  • Are you an average sewer hoping to get better? Me too.
  • Do you have a rack of UFO’s staring at you when you go into your sewing area? Me too?

If you answered yes to these questions, you are like me.  I have been sewing since 7th grade Home Ec. class and although I have been sewing for a very long time, my skills are advancing slowly.  What’s kept me going all this time?  My imagination and my handy seam ripper.

When I think seam ripper, the first project that comes to mind is my daughter’s fur jacket that was never quite right.  I saw these cute little jackets in the fashion photos in fall magazines and catalogues and I thought I would make one for my daughter’s 21st birthday.  I did a little reading on sewing with fur and I was all set.  Joann’s had some very nice faux fur on sale so I bought it along with a Vogue pattern.  Following all my books’ instructions, I cut the fur from the back with a one- sided razor blade, I used a narrow zig zag stitch close to the edge and I made sure the fur was not caught in the seam, facing out instead of in.  My daughter’s birthday is the middle of November and of course I had a few things left to finish when that day rolled around.  Never mind, I gave her enough so that she had an idea of what I was making for her.

Finally finishing it in time for Christmas, I wrapped it up with the rest of her presents.  Trying not to hurt my feelings after trying it on, she asked that the under collar be fur too (I made it out of wool to keep the collar from being too puffy) and she would really like cuffs on the sleeves.  So I ripped off the collar and ripped the seam open at the end of the sleeves.  Luckily, I had some good scraps left over so I could make an under-collar and sew on some fur at the end of the sleeves that looked like cuffs.  By this time, we were into summer and the jacket wasn’t needed.

Fur Collar

The following Christmas, she got her coat again and after trying it on and trying not to hurt my feelings, she said, “Mom, it’s too short.” Oh heavens!  So, back to the sewing room it went.  I picked through the scraps and was able to piece together enough to make an extension on the base of the jacket and add a little more fabric to the lining.  The lining was rayon brocade and because it ravels like crazy, I had to surge the edges, even though I used pinking shears to cut it out.  When I ripped out the entire hem, the lining came with it because I had bagged the lining.  It all unraveled at the edge and I had to serge it all over again, which just made the lining that much shorter.  Finally, when fall came around, I got the jacket all finished, and again, presented it to my daughter.

Fur LiningFur Lining

Trying not to hurt my feelings or sound ungrateful for all my work, she said, “Mom, it looks funny at the bottom and I can’t wear it.”  Actually, I agreed with her, so in the coat closet it hangs and off to the Goodwill or something it will go. For her next birthday, I went to a trendy chain store and bought her a soft faux fur vest, which she loves!

 

 

 

Over the years, I have used quite a number of seam rippers.  I now have at least one at my sewing table, one at my machine, one in my sewing box and a couple stashed so there is always one available.

I guess about the biggest thing I have learned over the years is to keep on sewing and with practice, I will get better.  Sew a lot and sew often. But no matter how long I continue to sew, my seam ripper will always be my most used notion.  Being a little scatter-brained, I will continue to sew the right side to wrong, the back of a sleeve to the front of the dress, sew the front plackets on the inside of a shirt and find out when there is no fabric left that I have cut out  two right sleeves.  We’re only human after all.