Print This Post
I’ve recently been talking about the best way to remove lines of stitching, AKA Stitch ripping. The “ripping” part of that phrase always sets my teeth on edge. I envision fabric being ripped, and that awful sound that accompanies it! Ack! Of course, stitch ripping thankfully doesn’t actually involve ripping fabric–as long as you’re doing it right!–but it will unavoidably leave holes in your fabric where your stitches were. Here’s how to get rid of those little suckers when simple pressing just doesn’t cut the mustard. Of all the sewing tips and tricks I know, this is one of the favorites.
The Situation:
Here’s what I’m talking about. This is a piece of cotton fabric I was using to try out some Sashiko embroidery. I wasn’t happy with it, so unpicked it in order to start again. One problem….stitch marks!! A note: I’m using this project as a sample because the weave is larger and easier to photograph, but this applies to machine and hand stitching as well.
Now we can begin eliminating those stitch marks!
Step 1: Press It
Here’s the fabric after a simple press. Better, but not great! As the needle passes through the fabric, the weft and the warp threads of the fabric get moved out of alignment, and holes are made. The fabric then stays that way even once the thread is removed. If you look closely at the first two pics you can see the individual threads are skewed around the stitch holes.
Step 2: Nail It
Now for the secret to erasing those stitch marks! Use your fingernail…
…or Spoon It!
With a firm pressure appropriate to the sturdiness of your fabric, drag it across the weft (left to right then right to left) and the warp of the fabric (up and down). Press with steam and repeat 2 to 3 times.
Step 3: Keep At It
See the difference? The repeated dragging action manipulates those warp and weft threads back into place and the steam fixes them there. Clever huh? But we’re not quite done…
Step 4: Repeat It
Flip the fabric over and repeat on the other side. Drag your nail/spoon across left and right, then up and down then press with steam…
Voila!
Quite a difference huh? This technique will work on most wovens to a greater or lesser degree depending on two factors. First, the fineness and weave of the fabric itself, and second, how long those stitches have been in there. In some instances the fabric will be too delicate, or the stitches will have been in too long–but I’m talking existing-garments type long!–for this method to be completely effective. In a lot of cases, though, this will help erase all memories of that bodged stitching..c’mon, we all bodge seams at one time or another…so no-one will ever know. Shhhh….
Hey! Want to know how to quickly and easily remove lines of bodged stitching? Find out how!
Which of the methods above do you prefer? Let us know, and then check out my blog!
Portia Lawrie
Latest posts by Portia Lawrie (see all)
- Sewing Tip: How to Remove Stitch Marks From Your Fabric - June 25, 2020
- Sewing Tip: How to Remove Stitch Marks From Your Fabric - June 9, 2019
- Sewing Tip: How to Remove Stitch Marks From Your Fabric - May 11, 2015
Print This Post
Thank you so very much. Great solution.
I always start with pulling off the grain in both directions first. Many times that is all that is needed. Then I pull and wiggle the threads from the sides in an off grain movement. I steam between the methods. This usually works for me. Pulling out fold lines is a lot worse, but I steam those also, sometimes with vinegar. If the line is still there, I put a piece of large sting on the right side and steam it over on the wrong. This pushes the fabric back into place. Unless the fabric is folded long enough to discolor, these things usually work.
Thanks. A very useful tip.
I find that one of the first ‘pulls’ that I give the material is both diagonals with a bit of a ‘shuggle’ [moving the part you are holding side to side still pulling the material between your hands, then do the rest as described. 8-))
Thanks! I removed embroidery from a used jacket and there are many stitch marks. i figured that machine washing would remove them – haven’t had a chance to do so yet but i’ll keep these tips handy too.
I just tried this and it actually works. If you don’t believe it try it and then comment. I did!
Thanks! Steam pressing it alone did the trick and didn’t even really need to do any of the other techniques! So happy to have saved my garment! Was super worried before!
Fantastic tips thank you, worked like a dream!
I would simply like to say thank you. But here is my story: I was in a state of panic over my project tonight. I needed to machine-embroider a man’s wool blazer for a fraternity, and things that could go wrong did. First, my machine shifted part of the fraternity crest to a different area (I have no idea how that happened, but it did), but thankfully it put it behind another design that covered it. I had to go back and hand-embroider the area (oh.my.gosh. I have a new respect for those who hand-embroider such things, especially that since the design was so dense, I broke several needles trying to fix it). Then once the crest was finished and the gentleman’s name was done, I realized that I positioned the name to be centered with the crest, not even with it at the top, so I had to rip out those threads (which took several hours), and left me with those ugly pin holes. THEN, to top it all off, when I redid the name in the machine, the thread nested ON TOP of the design on the second letter, so I had to pick out those stitches as well…needless to say I was very frustrated and feeling like I was going to have to buy this man a new blazer (with money that I don’t have). Well, the crest came out decent enough to not be noticed by an untrained eye, and the rest of the name embroidered just fine. So there were those ugly holes staring at me in the face. I ran to google, typed in my problem, and your blog here was the first to pop up. You are an angel! I had to repeat your steps a bit more than three times, but it worked beautifully! I did add a little spritz of water once or twice, and it looks almost as if I never made a mistake. I usually don’t post thank you’s, simply because there isn’t a place to, or the solution was to a problem that was not so terribly important. But I believe you truly deserve many thanks from me on this account. I am still trying to bring my heart rate down from nervousness over this. I don’t know what I would have done without you! I know this may seem very dramatic, but if you were here and could have seen my face before and after, you would understand. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Any chance you know how to do this with stretch polyester that looks and feels like velvet?
If I remove this will it leave holes? It’s towelling materials.
THANK U SOOOO MUCHH
you’re a lifesaver
ilyyyyy ♡
WOW. Life saver! Absolutely worked. I used it on an item that had been embroidered for 4 years and it still worked. There’s the very slightest hint that I can only see because I *know* it was there, but I’ve had several family members check it out and they can’t see it.