Serger tutorial...ripping out a seam

Ugh. We've all done it...had to pretend we're in love with our seam ripper and lured them with cookies and ice cream so that they'll be our best friend and comply to all our requests.... Or maybe that's just how my relationship with my dear seam ripper goes. ;)

There is nothing worse than having to remove a serged seam. Now, you may ALL know how to rip out a serged seam, or maybe you never make mistakes ;) But maybe, just maybe, a few of you are just like me; you dive into something without thinking twice and later regret it because of all the seams you then have to remove, and you don't know the most efficient way to do it!

Here's how I do it. It's not pretty, I'm warning you now :) This may also be one of the more lame tutorials around, but if it helps even one person, then I may catch a break in the seam ripping karma department ;)

The culprit today, a neckline that was too big.

So, take your trusty seam ripper, and put it through the top half of the stitch






Keep going all the way around until you are done. Then open the seam just a bit and rip out a few small stitches:



Once you start to pull it apart a little, you will wind up with one longer thread...that's the one you get to pull:



See how it removed the whole line of thread that was sewn by one of your needles?



Keep doing this until you've gotten all your threads out. And then....ugh, you're left with this:



But do not fret! This thing is my savior (have you seen me use it as a vacuum before?)



With one swift roll...



Tada!



And that's how I rip out my serged seams. Uh, anyone know an easier way? ;)

xo,
Shari

Yesterday you met my serger...today is a Serger Tutorial!

I read a serger tutorial once online, and for the life of me I cannot find the link.

Well, it seems that many of you are sewing addicts, just like me, so I thought I would share my favorite serger tip: What to do with that long piece of thread that hangs off your seams!

I used to snip mine, and then they would fray. Then I started knotting them, but I'm no sailor. Now here is what I do, it's so easy!

So here's the culprit...long serger thread:



Go find the biggest needle you can find. One that isn't all sharp and pointy. I use a size 22 tapestry needle. Then stick it under/through the seam you just finished sewing:



Bunch up your long thread at the end, rolling it between your fingers a few times in order for all those threads to fit through the needle eye:



Pull your needle through, so that the long thread tail goes under all that stitching and comes out the end:



Snip close to the end:



Add Fray Block or Fray Check:



Tada! Seam is finished, long thread vanished, and no chance of it ever coming back to haunt you!



Hope this little tip helps you!