Cutting & Measuring
Seam Ripper
A seam ripper is a handle with a small hooked blade and a point. The point slips under a stitch, the inside edge of the hook cuts it, and the ball tip lets you run the blade along a seam without stabbing through the fabric underneath. It is the tool you use when a seam is wrong, which is often, and the one that is always missing when you need it.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 9 - 15 cm |
| Handle | Plastic or rubberised |
| Blade | Small hook, replaceable on some |
| Tip | Ball tip to protect fabric |
| Extras | Some have a stiletto or brush end |
| Consumable | The blade dulls; replace the tool |
Technical parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hook | Cuts from the inside edge |
| Ball tip | Slides under the stitch |
| Angle | Keep the blade flat to the seam |
| Speed | Short strokes beat long pulls |
| Care | Cap the blade when stored |
| Spares | Keep three or four |
Safety
The blade is small but sharp and the point is fine enough to go into a finger. Always cap it when you put it down, cut away from your body, and keep your other hand holding the seam taut rather than near the blade.
What it is for
A small hooked blade for unpicking stitches. You will own several, because they evaporate.
Compatible fabrics
Compatible stitches
Working notes
- Cut every third stitch from the wrong side, then pull the thread out in one piece.
- Use the ball tip against the fabric so you cut thread, not cloth.
- Keep a spare in the machine case and one by the iron.
- Replace it when it starts pulling the thread instead of cutting it.
Related tools
Fabric Shears
Bent-handle shears that keep the fabric flat on the table while the blade cuts. The tool a tailor buys once and keeps for thirty years.
Rotary Cutter
A rolling circular blade that cuts multiple layers at once and needs a mat underneath. Fast, accurate, and unforgiving of fingers.
Cutting Mat
A self-healing mat that protects the table and the blade, printed with a grid for squaring up.