Seam ripper review: I have tested the most popular seam rippers for you. Take a look at the results now and discover my recommendations.
The most important things at a glance
- I tested 6 of the most popular seam rippers for you and present the pros and cons of each in comparison
- I show you what you can actually do with a seam ripper and why it is such an essential sewing accessory
- I can no longer imagine my sewing life without a seam ripper (and I always recommend having more than one, as they tend to disappear indefinitely :D)
- Seam rippers are usually priced between 2 and 15 euros
Ripping correctly: Everything about seam rippers
What would I do without my seam ripper?
It is true that the seam ripper doesn't have a very good reputation. Unjustly so, in my opinion, because this little sewing helper is a true all-rounder. Everyone naturally hopes to have to use it as little as possible (when it comes to having to rip out previously sewn seams).
But honestly: no one who sews would want to miss it, because it is truly irreplaceable and is definitely at home in every sewing room. :)
Because there is unfortunately some truth to the saying: "To sew, you must be able to rip." :)
What is a seam ripper?
A seam ripper usually consists of a plastic handle fitted with a sharp, forked tip at the front.
On the forked head, there is a long, sharp point and a somewhat shorter point with a red, round ball. This is intended to prevent the fabric from being pinched or torn.
Seam rippers are also sometimes called stitch rippers.
Between the two points sits a small, curved blade designed to cleanly cut the seam.
Why do I need a seam ripper?
You might be wondering why you need a seam ripper.
That was exactly my feeling at the beginning. When I wanted to start sewing and bought my first sewing machine, I looked for tips on the necessary basic equipment for beginners. In doing so, I kept stumbling across the term "seam ripper."
I really didn't know what to do with it—and, above all, I didn't realize back then how often I would be using it in the future.
I have to admit: at the beginning, I made plenty of sewing mistakes. But I try to look at it positively, because I naturally learned from those mistakes. Giving up was not an option for me.
By the way, these tips and tricks for the best sewing hacks helped me a lot in building the confidence to start sewing as a beginner.
What can I use a seam ripper for?
If you think that a seam ripper is only for opening seams and hems, you are wrong.
You can use it for the following:
- To rip out seams
- To open buttonholes
- You can use it instead of a stiletto (a sharp, stiletto-like tool used to guide fabric precisely under the presser foot)
- I also use it as a thread cutter when I want to remove buttons or clothing labels from used garments
How do I use a seam ripper?
You can use a seam ripper to open various seams, such as a straight stitch, an overlock stitch on a sewing machine (also called a mock overlock stitch), or an actual overlock seam.
This works on almost all materials and fabrics, although some are naturally more delicate than others.
There are several ways to do this, depending on what kind of seam you have and how much you want to rip out.
It can be quite annoying to rip out seams with a very short stitch length. Anything with a stitch length of 3.0 or larger is much easier to open than tighter stitches.
Basically, when ripping out seams, you proceed by first cutting two to four of the small loops from the outside to get an open start.
Then you can turn your fabric over and pull out the now loose thread. You shouldn't do this too quickly so that the sewing thread* can come undone smoothly.
Afterward, you can pick off the thread remnants, rub them away with a thread eraser, or remove them with a lint roller*.
It is often recommended to hold the ball point down and the longer sharp point up to ensure the fabric is not damaged.
I have to admit that I have a habit of turning the longer point down—and so far, I haven't ruined any fabric using this method. When I turn it the other way, I feel like I don't get the optimal angle for ripping.
If you want to rip out a larger section, you can lay your sewing project in front of you, insert the seam ripper with one hand, and hold the fabric in place with the other, applying some pressure. This way, you can slide the seam ripper through the seam you want to open just like scissors. It’s actually quite fun, try it out sometime :).
Ripping Tip: The Third Hand
Ripping can be really annoying. However, it works quite well if you keep the fabric under tension by fixing one end in place.
The "Third Hand" trick is perfect for this!
Place the fabric under the presser foot. Lower the presser foot and the needle.
Now you can tension the fabric and rip the seam in one go.
What should I look for when buying a seam ripper?
There are a great many seam rippers on the market, so one can easily be overwhelmed by the choices.
That is why I am addressing this question in this article: What actually makes a good seam ripper, and what characterizes it?
It is important to me that the seam ripper has a cap so that you don't injure yourself when you are not using it. For many seam rippers, you can click the cap onto the back end while in use, so you don't misplace it and you also have a handy grip extension.
On Amazon, I discovered small pouches* that serve as protective covers and contain other sewing accessories such as thread snips, trimming scissors, a measuring tape, and fabric clips, along with the seam rippers.
Also great are sets that consist of several seam rippers of different sizes, like this one from Kissral*. Since at least one is always missing (at least for me:) ), you conveniently always have a spare at hand. :)
There are also seam rippers with integrated magnification and light*, which can be very useful and convenient, especially when dealing with small and delicate sewing projects that need to be ripped.
There are actually cordless electric seam rippers* that you can use to rip seams, hems, etc., in sewing and embroidery work.
We haven't tried this ourselves, but think that it might be more suitable for larger companies and very extensive sewing projects than for home use.
There are also seam rippers with a needle threader on the back—also very practical if you frequently hand-sew, such as for quilting.
What does a seam ripper cost?
Most seam rippers are priced between 2 and 15 euros.
Seam rippers can be purchased from almost all well-known sewing supply brands, which naturally cost a bit more than those from lesser-known brands. Often, however, the well-known brands (like this one from Gründel) also have an affordable* and a more expensive* model.
But that doesn't mean at all that the cheap seam rippers can't be good. I also really like using seam rippers from lesser-known brands that are available cheaply in a set* on Amazon, for example.
Ergonomic seam rippers are also available cheaply in sets; I particularly like this one*.
Retailers like Tchibo, DM, Rossmann, etc., also have promotions every now and then where seam rippers and other sewing accessories are on sale. It's definitely always worth taking a look there too.
Can I sharpen my dull seam ripper?
Yes, that is actually possible. A beloved and frequently used seam ripper that has become dull can indeed be sharpened.
This works with steel wool* or abrasive fleece*.
The SewSimple Seam Ripper Review
Since a seam ripper should naturally not be missing from your sewing starter kit, SewSimple has tested six popular seam rippers for you and rated them on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
I put the seam rippers through their paces. I looked at the following points:
- Handling
- Functionality
- Packaging
- Quality/Workmanship
- Sharpness of the blade
Clover white
The white professional seam ripper from Clover* is a nice size (not too big and not too small) and fits well in the hand.
It is packaged in a plastic shell that is glued to a backing card.
When testing, the blade was nicely sharp and ripped through the seams in no time at all.
It does not have a cap, which in turn means a point deduction, as such a sharp tool should ideally be capped when not in use.
Its rubberized grooves at the top end of the handle prevent slipping.
In terms of price, the Clover seam ripper is about 6 euros.
The professional seam ripper from Clover in white gets 4 out of 5 stars
Dritz Small Ergonomic Seam Ripper
The Small Ergonomic Seam Ripper from Dritz* makes a really good impression right out of the package.
It comes in cardboard packaging, with only the protective cover for the seam ripper being made of plastic. It gets a star for that.
The Dritz seam ripper has a soft, rubberized grip and sits comfortably in the hand.
It has an ergonomic shape designed to make working easier, especially for those with strained hands (e.g., due to arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome).
The end of the grip is also rubberized, though slightly firmer. This allows you to erase thread remnants from the fabric without them sticking, which I find very pleasant.
Seam-fix seam ripper with thread eraser* is, by the way, available from many different brands.
The point and the blade are very sharp, so it rips out seams very smoothly. A cap is included.
The Dritz seam ripper is priced at around 10 euros, which is a bit more expensive compared to the others.
The Small Ergonomic Seam Ripper from Dritz* makes a very high-quality impression overall.
It gets 5 out of 5 stars
Prym Love (small)
The seam ripper from Prym Love in small* looks very appealing and fits very well in the hand thanks to its ergonomic design and recessed grips.
Compared to the other 5 seam rippers, it contains the least amount of plastic in the packaging.
The cutting edge of the fork and the tip are slightly duller than those of the other seam rippers in the test.
The Prym seam ripper has a small notch at the top of the handle where you can attach a cord. This allows you to hang the seam ripper around your neck so you don't have to look for it anymore :).
If you wear the seam ripper around your neck, you must put the cap on first, otherwise there is a real risk of injury.
Instructions for attaching the cord are included, but unfortunately, the cord itself is not.
I think this is a nice idea but not quite practical - what do you do, for example, with large sewing projects? Then you end up taking it off anyway. Above all, the cord would need to be at least 1 meter long for you to actually use the ripper.
The price of the seam ripper is around 4.50 euros.
The Prym Love seam ripper gets 3 out of 5 stars
Clover Seam Ripper*
The Clover seam ripper* is a comfortable size and fits well in the hand due to the rounded grip. However, it is not as ergonomically shaped as, for example, the Prym Love seam ripper.
The packaging unfortunately consists of a lot of plastic, which we find a pity.
At first glance, the handle looks like real wood, which we find very appealing. But unfortunately, it is made of plastic with a wood-look finish.
The blade looks identical to the white Clover seam ripper and is also very sharp.
The price of this seam ripper is around 6.50 euros.
The wood-look Clover seam ripper gets 4 out of 5 stars from us
Sullivan's USA Precision Seam Ripper
The Sullivan's USA Precision Seam Ripper* comes with a replacement blade and a buttonhole cutter.
The packaging is once again the familiar combination of plastic and paper.
When the blade is dull, you can replace it. How this works is clearly explained on the back of the packaging.
The plastic handle doesn't initially seem very high-quality. It is very narrow and not ergonomically shaped. As a result, it does not sit as comfortably in the hand as the other rippers in the test. The handle is ribbed at the top, which prevents slipping.
When laterally ripping individual small stitches, you have to be very careful not to catch and cut the fabric.
Cutting while pulling through the seam worked by far the best with this seam ripper, as the blade is sharp as a scalpel.
The round, rotating cutting mat from Prym Love*, which you see in the background here, is incidentally Sabine's latest acquisition and her pride and joy (I think I need one too now!).
When putting the cap on, you have to be very careful not to prick or cut yourself.
The Sullivan's USA Precision Seam Ripper gets 4 out of 5 stars from us.
Madeira seam-fix
Although the Madeira seam-fix* is packed in quite a lot of plastic, it looks appealing and well-made overall.
It is robust and has two differently shaped thread erasers at both ends. One is pointed and the other is ribbed. The handling of the two thread erasers is explained clearly on the back of the packaging.
It is the largest seam ripper in our test and feels very comfortable in the hand.
The cap opens and closes well. However, when opened, the cap cannot be placed on the end due to the second thread eraser - therefore, there is a risk that it could disappear during the work process.
The blade is very sharp and rips open seams beautifully.
The Madeira seam ripper gets 5 out of 5 stars from us.
Conclusion and test winner: Which seam ripper is the best?
I have two clear winners that "stood out" in our test due to their comfortable handling, ergonomic design, the associated thread eraser, and, of course, the sharpness of the blade.
I liked the seam-fix seam ripper from Madeira* and the Small Ergonomic Seam Ripper from Dritz* by far the best.
My two winning seam rippers are a comfortable size, are robust, well-made, and feel pleasant in the hand.
In addition, both are very sharp, which is, of course, an important criterion for us. In my view, both rippers are recommendable. Both for beginners and for experienced sewers.
You can take a look at this post to see what other indispensable sewing accessories exist besides the seam ripper.
Happy simple sewing
your Sabine
Comments
Comments are loading …