Why Does Your Seam Ripper Have a Red Ball? Discover Its Purpose!
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- Опубліковано 4 чер 2024
- A seam ripper’s red ball is a safety feature that protects the fabric and the user’s hands from the sharp blade. It also helps to guide the tool through tough fabrics and prevents snags and tears. While not all seam rippers have a red ball, and proper use and technique are essential for the tool to function effectively.
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Hey everybody!
I've noticed quite a few comments mentioning that some folks have been using their seam rippers 'wrong' after watching my tutorial. But here's the thing, it's not really about right or wrong. Seam rippers can be used in a variety of ways, and different methods suit different situations.
You weren't using it incorrectly before; I've just shown you another technique to add to your sewing toolkit. It's not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal - this method might be perfect for some tasks, but not for others.
Curious about when to use this technique and when to stick with your usual method? I've got all the details laid out in a comprehensive tutorial on my site. Just head over to this link to get the full instructions - www.ageberry.com/why-does-your-seam-ripper-have-a-red-ball/
How very kind and humble you are!😘
Kind words from you but it seems that the rest of us have been using it upside down.😁
your English is painful to listen!
Yes, I have inadvertently cut so many pieces of fabric because I have been using it upside down… for decades! I have come to think that scissors are quicker because of that. Now I'll give it another go! Many thanks!
I can't believe I'm over 50 learning this. My mom could sew a ball gown too! Wow. ❤
After half a century on this planet, I've finally learnt how to use a seam ripper.
Heh heh...and me 3/4 of a century...and today learned a new tip and what the heck the bed ball was for. 🤣
Well, they say good things come to those who wait - half a century seems like a patient wait for seam ripper enlightenment! 😄 Congratulations on unlocking a new level in the game of life (and sewing). May your newfound skills lead to many beautifully unpicked seams in the years to come!
I’ve been doing this wrong the entire time. 😮😂
Wow, I had no idea I was using the seam ripper the wrong way. Thank you so much for the lesson.
@@SewingTutorialsByAgeberry this is just a seamstress' poetry! Love your comments, thanks! :-)
What?!?? What just happened?!? How have I been sewing for 35 years and NEVER KNEW THIS?!?!!! I practically cry every time I have to take out a seam because I literally cut one stitch at a time with the sharp end and it takes forever - I am still in shock by what I just watched. Mind blown. Life changed. Thank you SO MUCH!!
I had the same reaction! I'm 61 years old...this just proves one is never too old to learn new things.
lol I second. maybe not "One" at a time, but Close. : } Cheers!
Same here!
SAME!! The shock I had when she zipped through that first seam was visceral. I'm sorta stunned right now.
Ditto. Been stitching for donkey's years and have always painstakingly ripped the stitches one after another😲
Not only have I finally learned what the red ball is for I also learned the various sizes of seam rippers are for various fabrics! I’m 65.
they are? oh, wow!
I'm 78 and didn't know.
I'm also 65 and never knew what the red ball was for or there were different sizes!
Love from Nova Scotia, Canada
Same
😂😂😂😂, same here
😳83 years old now, and I have been sewing since I was 18.
I NEVER knew what the red ball was for.
This is mind-bending for me.
When I think of all the holes I have inadvertently made in fabrics because I used the sharp point underneath and the red ball above 🥹😭
Thank you. 🙏🏾
Internet is realy useful
After reading all the comments, I've decided that none of our teachers, growing up, knew how to use a seam ripper, either! I've ALWAYS led with the sharp point! I never knew you were supposed to use the ball end. I just figured that was so we don't poke ourselves and thought that didn't make sense. LOL Thank you for teaching me something important about a seam ripper! All these years, ripping has been MUCH harder than it needed to be!
exactly! I can't believe how much time I would of saved if I knew it earlier.
I learned to sew in 7th grade home economics class and we ripped our mistakes out one stitch at a time with the sharp point of the seam ripper per our teacher’s instructions. This was in 1968 and I took sewing classes every semester throughout junior and senior high and I am only now learning the proper way to use a seam ripper.
Genau so ging es mir auch, meine handarbeitslehrerin zeigte es uns auch falsch... es war furchtbar mühsam, die falschen Stiche wieder zu trennen...😢
Same here! This will make things MUCH easier!
OMG! Mein Nahttrenner hat keine rote Kugel! 😲Hat an beiden Enden eine Spitze! Wie mühsam das Trennen ohne diese Kugel ist! Das werde ich sofort ändern!👍Damke!
You had me at “hold on to your bobbin,” that was too cute 😂 Wow…. I’ve been sewing for decades, and you taught me a game changing technique! Just to think of the tons of hours I’ve dreaded and spent removing seams! Thank you for a useful technique that l will implement immediately.
I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the video and found the technique game-changing! Thank you for your lovely comment. Implement away and may your stitches fear your mighty seam ripper!
@@SewingTutorialsByAgeberry that's so funny! Now I know who is a Queen of the seam ripping, you are! So inspiring!
Right?! "Hold on to your bobbin..." is the phrase that made me hit Subscribe.
I thought she'd said "hold on to your bottom".
Same. 😂😂😂
Thank you!!! 71 yrs of age and I have now learned the correct way to use the seam ripper. 😮😊
Same here!
Me too! 71 and just learned how to use the ripper! It needs to come with directions on the package!!!
@@sheridanclaude2133 I agree!
careful, you just implied you were using it wrong and i guess that's a wrong thing to say according to ageberry. xD
Until this video I never understood why they called it a seam "ripper". I always thought it was just an ambitious or wishful sort of over-exaggeration of what the tool does.
Today, the name of the tool finally makes so much sense!
Absolutely!!
That's what I thought too!!
But it does rip the other way röund too tho
In New Zealand we call it a “quick-unpick” and I’ve only ever used it to unpick individual stitches. Very rarely do I rip full seams.
In Australia we call it a quick-unpick. I always thought that was stupid because it wasn't quick at all! 😅
Hmm, I've been using it upside down. Thank you.
Hey, if using it upside down worked for you, then it was also good! There's no one right way to use a tool if you're getting the results you want. But I'm glad you found the video helpful and that you've got a new technique to try out now. Thanks for watching and commenting!
OMG I been using it wrong as well cause the way she doing it go through like a knife lol thank u ma'am for the video I learn new things everyday have a blessed day
Me too! And I did individual stitches, not one long rip!
Omg me too, my mother never taught me anything
You're welcome! It's great to hear you've picked up a new trick that might make your sewing easier. Don't worry about how you were using it before; it wasn’t wrong, it was just another way of using it. Learning new things every day keeps our skills sharp - just like a good seam ripper! @@sheterancehampton7545
My teacher, it seems did know how to use a seam ripper. In my day boys didn’t do sewing, we did woodwork. I was so badly behaved as a punishment I was put into the girls sewing class. Turns out I loved it! I have three boys, now men, and I taught them to sew as well. One joined the RAF and he said his sewing skills really help him when on deployment in Afghan’. Sewing is an important skill.
As a retired USAF member, I made the mistake of telling my wife she was doing the stripes and patches on my uniforms wrong. So for the rest of my career, I was the one doing all the sewing on my uniforms
What a delightful comment!
@@robertheinkel6225 As a retired USAF member, I'd like to shake your wife's hand 😂
@@robertheinkel6225 Oops! 😉😊
Your sense of humor is a delightful addition to your already educational videos and articles, a tribute to Rudolph’s nose made me chuckle.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Laughter and learning make a great pair, and I'm glad it brought a chuckle to your day.
OMG! I have been sewing since I was 13 (I am 64 now) and I never knew that this is how to use the seam ripper. I would just carefully pick the stitches by ones and twos. When I think of the hours I could have saved myself hahahaha! I so appreciate this video. Just showed my daughter who is 30 and has been sewing as well since she was a little girl. We are so AMAZED! BTW you are very funny :)
OH MY WORD! I have been sewing since I was about 11-12 and I never knew that! Neither my home ec teacher or my grandmother who sewed and did alterations for people ever told me. I have been using it upside down for 60 years and taking forever because of often having to do one stitch at a time! 👵🏻 Always thought it was there to keep you from accidentally poking yourself while using the seam ripper. 😆 Thank you for sharing that very important tidbit of information. 👍👏😊
I think no matter how long we've been doing something, there's always room for new tricks and techniques. Thank you for watching and for your enthusiastic response!
Ditto!
Oh, my!! I thought it was for protection, too!😂
I was definitely taught to use the ripper incorrectly! Home Economics teacher didn’t know her ripper, lol.
74 years here and I also have been using it wrong! When I think about all the hours I spent seam ripping… I guess it’s true… never to old to learn! 😳. 😂
I think we all learned something new. 67 years old and been sewing since I was 5. You just taught this old dog a new trick. Thanks so much. New sub.
You really opened my eyes up to how I could have been using this seam ripper the last 50 years. I'm embarrassed to say I had no idea. Thank you for this valuable information. ❤😊
OMGoodness! I have been sewing for many, many years and just realized I have been using my seam rippers wrongly. Either I did not pay attention as a child learning from my mother...or I forgot. Thank you so much for this video!
Me too!
Well, you weren't using your seam ripper wrongly - it's just that there's more than one way to use it. Sometimes we pick up a method and stick with it for years without realizing there are alternatives. Thank you for watching the video, and I'm so glad you found it valuable.
@@SewingTutorialsByAgeberry I will be back later tonight to have a look at your channel. Greetings from a Swiss living in Spain!
I never knew about the fabric saver red ball
“not just a tribute to Rudolf” 😂👏👏 Informative AND funny!💐 Greetings from Africa 👋 I have subscribed 🤗
I’ve been doing it all WRONG for decades. I was using my seam ripper all WRONG! Thank you for showing me the correct way to use this valuable tool. 💜💜💜
I've been sewing since 1972. And I always ripped the seam from the back and it never worked that fast. Plus I held it upside down. I need to put a note by my seam ripper to remind me to do it right next time.
@@julienielsen3746 Ha! You’re close in age to me, I think. I forget to make notes and lists, because I’m busy having fun. I even tell myself (all the time) “You’re going to forget that.” I recently heard you can say anything once you’re 70. I’ve expanded that to dawdling when I like, or being in someone’s way just because I’m old. 💜💜💜 I think I began sewing about 1962 or 1965. Good memories.
my mind is absolutely blown!! they should have like a diagram on the back of the packaging showing this technique! game changing!!
OMG! I’m 64. Our mom taught all of us kids to sew as we were growing up. I taught my kids to sew. I’m now teaching my grandkids to sew.
I never knew until today I been using the seam ripper wrong all my life. Thank you for your help.
I read some of the comments and after decades of sewing I was doing it different. I used to go on the inside and on one side of the seam cut a stitch every inch or so and then on the other side you pull one long thread out and only have pieces on one side. Thank you for showing us this way.
Your method is indeed a valid traditional way to use a seam ripper, and it's great that you've shared it here. The method shown in the video is just another option to consider, which some may find speeds up the process or suits their style better. I appreciate you taking the time to describe your approach. Thank you for watching the video, and I hope you might find this new for you method useful in some situations.
Smart thinking!
I have never seen a seam ripper use that way. I have been using it wrong all these years. This will save me so much time. Thank you so much.
I see the UA-cam algorithm has suggested a category I have never once searched. But this video has peaked my interest in knowing what the little red ball was for. Even though I don’t sew or anything related to it. Very informative video and I hope this channel continues to grow and educate more people 👍🏽
Ok, after scrolling through the comments, I have discovered that basically NONE of us were taught about the function of The Red Ball.
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE??🤷🏻♀️
At least we can now pass this vital information on to future generations.👍🏻❤😁
Thank you SO much.
Actually.... All of us who are commenting here have one common factor which has led to the "wrong" usage of the seam ripper. It has never occured to any of us to ponder or ask somebody or google "why" there is a red ball on the other side. We just took it for granted that this is how the tool has been designed... period. 🤷🤦
Never too old to learn something new. Or find out I've been doing it wrong for decades😊.
You're definitely not alone in that boat! It's all about lifelong learning, and sometimes that means discovering a new way of doing things - even if it's been decades. But hey, it's not wrong if it worked for you, it's just another way.
As a kid, I used my mom's seam ripper as an olive fork.
That's quite the resourceful childhood ingenuity! While your mom's seam ripper may not have been thrilled to be used as an olive fork, it sounds like it served a dual purpose in your household. Thanks for sharing that delightful snippet - it's always fun to hear the unexpected ways tools can be repurposed, intentionally or not. 😂
😂❤
Comment of the day... bravo!
Today I learned that I was using a seam ripper wrong and inefficiently. Thank you so much for this video! I came out learning more than one thing today!
And you just taught me that I should be saying "used wrongly," not "used wrong." Because, after all, it is modifying a verb, so should be an adverb. You showed me by negative example, following "wrong" with the adverb "Inefficiently." Please don't be embarrassed! I'm grateful!
Omg, thank you - novice sewist here (less than 5 years experience) and I think you just saved me months if not years' worth of time in the future.
I never knew that this is how we're supposed to use a seam ripper. Live and Learn.
While I'm sorry you tore your fabric, I'm glad you included it in the video. Makes me feel a little better about the times I've done that myself! It always seems to happen on the fabric that I *really* don't want to tear...
I'm glad sharing that moment made you feel better! Even those of us who sew regularly can slip up and tear our fabric, especially when it's the one we love the most-it's like the fabric knows! It's all part of the sewing journey, and I guess each mishap is a chance to learn and grow. Thanks for watching, and keep on sewing, tears and all! 😊
I know nothing about sewing, but I came to watch because I'm fascinated by the whole science of sewing, sewing machines, and textile making etc. Is like geometry, topology and physics all in one grab! Vastly under-appreciated arts. Thank you.
I'm 76 and I had no idea about the red ball. This will be a game changer. Thank you for sharing this most important fact. Best wishes from Australia.
I had no idea I was using it wrong. 😂 Great video, thank you!
Oh, you weren't using it wrong at all! 😄 The wonderful thing about sewing is that there are often many methods to achieve the same result. The traditional way of using a seam ripper is absolutely fine, but it's always fun to learn different techniques and see which one you prefer. I'm glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you for your comment.
Me too! Using it upside down since 1972 in home economics class! Lol
Me too.
Thank you. This is a game changer, I’ve been sewing since childhood, I’m now well over sixty and have always picked at individual stitches!
😲😲😲 I've been using this tool the wrong way for more then 30 years.... I'm a hobbyist so I use not often. I just clicked on the video you tube suggested and learned a lesson... thank you....
Isn't it amazing what you can stumble upon in the big classroom of UA-cam? 😲 I'm glad the video served up a handy lesson for you. Thank you for watching and commenting!
My jaw was on the floor watching this. Thank you for teaching us the best way to use a seam ripper!
Great video and you made me laugh out loud with the unicorn and Rudolph reference.
Well, it's always a bonus when we can share a chuckle along with some sewing tips. Thanks for your comment!
I just add to the concert of OMG I’ve been sewing for 40 years and didn’t know that! As a compulsive recycler of old cloths that is life changing!
I am thrilled to realize I wasn’t the only person who has been sewing for decades, and didn’t realize that red ball was actually a critical part of the tool! Next time I both something and need to re sew, you can bet I’m going to remember this! Thanks!
Oh my goodness, I am in my 60s and have been using my seem ripper wrong my whole life, I cannot believe how easy it is to do it the correct way you show, instead of a couple of stitches at a time and snagging the fabric. Thank you so much.
I knew about this, but I'm always afraid of ripping the fabric so I go slow. I didn't realize there were different sizes available.
When you are working with fabric that you don't want to damage, taking it slow and steady with the seam ripper is a good approach. But if I want to speed up the process when I’m working on deconstructing a garment for upcycling, being super precise with the seam ripper isn't always as important and a tiny snip here or there won't upset me. And yes, seam rippers do come in different sizes to suit various types of projects and fabrics. Thank you for watching and commenting!
@janemartin229:
My teacher taught us to use scissors when taking apart seams! Then you have control. You cut the tread stitch by stich, or several stitches, depending on how tight it is.
OMG I've been using my seam ripper wrong my whole freaking life. Love this tip and your personality. You had me at rrrrrrrrip ❤
I'm 71, and don't do much sewing other than hemming pants and making small repairs. This vid popped up in my suggestions several days ago and I thought "I know the ball is to protect the fabric; I don't need to watch."
I'm glad I did! I too have always picked the threads out one at a time, poking the sharp end into the seam.
Thanks from Southern California.
THANK YOU! I knew this, but it is far too rare that someone passes on this little golden nugget of wisdom.
Thank you for sharing this,I didn't what it was for and now I can't wait to get ripping seams.
You're very welcome! Enjoy your seam-ripping adventures!
Thank you for teaching this experienced sewer something new
You're very welcome! It's always a pleasure to share tips that can be new to sewers of any experience level. I'm glad you found something valuable in the content. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I am so so glad my grandmother taught us this!! It really is a life saver!
The comments on this video help explain why a couple of people I know mentioned how much they dislike using a seam ripper and thought it was so tedious & inefficient to use. I’ve always found it soooo satisfying and was baffled about how they could feel so opposite from me. It never occurred to me that they weren’t using it correctly! Amazing how such a small tool has had such a big impact on people.
That is true for other things too. Like some people might a particular food because they've only ever had cooked one specific way.
Oh my goodness I didn't know that 😅😅😅 see you learn something new everyday
I'm so glad you discovered something new! 😄 It's true, there's always more to learn, especially in the vast world of sewing. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I too have been using it wrong ! Thank you so much for your explanation and tips.
You're very welcome! I'm glad the explanation and tips were helpful. There's no wrong way if it's been working for you, but it's always nice to learn different methods that might make sewing tasks a bit easier. Thanks for your comment!
So I've never seam ripped before lol I've only seam picked and gotten bored. You've saved my sewing life I'll be getting so much done
WOW! No idea why your video showed up on my stream but I am so glad it did. I had no idea how to use a seam ripper. Thank you.
Oh my gosh, so many years i used it wrong. Thank you for teaching. Greetings from Germany
Guten Tag! I'm so happy to hear that the video was helpful to you. You weren't using your seam ripper wrong before - it was just another way to use it. Now you've got another method to try out. Thank you for your kind words, and greetings from Florida to you in Germany!
WHAT?!? I had no idea!! Thank you. 😊
You're welcome! I'm so glad I could share something new with you. It's always exciting to learn a little tidbit that can make a difference in how we do things. Enjoy putting this newfound knowledge to use!
I don't even know what a seam ripper is. I'm not sure why this was recommended to me, but I'm glad it was.
Thank you! Like so many others I had been using this tool wrong, one stitch at a time.
In quilting we call it a stitch picker just so we won't be tempted to try the fast way which can too easily slice right into the fabric
It's always interesting to hear how different terms and techniques are used in various sewing circles. Thanks for sharing that tidbit from the quilting world! There's more than one way to use a seam ripper, and using it as a 'stitch picker' to remove stitches one at a time is perfectly right, especially in quilting where you want to avoid damaging your work. It's all about finding the method that feels safest and most effective for you. Whether you call it a seam ripper, stitch picker, or any other name, the goal is always to take out those stitches cleanly and keep your fabric intact.
I thought it was just meant to look like a drop of blood because they know I'm going to stab myself with it accidentally every time.
Haha, that's a humorous take on the design! Seam rippers do have a sharp point, and accidental pokes happen sometimes. Use it with care, and hopefully, those accidental stabs will be few and far between. 🧵😄✂️
Well after reading some comments I'm so glad I'm not the only one that has been using a seam ripper wrong for all these years. Thank you for showing me the right way.
I always wondered about the red ball. Thank you for your clear and concise explanation 🙏
Well for heavens sake. Guess you can teach an old lady a new trick. Thank you.
Absolutely, you're never too old to learn something new, and I'm thrilled to have shared a trick that was new to you. Thank you for being open to learning and for your lovely comment.
Wow I was doing it the hard way before! 🤯 This seems a much smoother way than my one-stich-at-a-time approach. Thank you
I've been using the seam ripper wrong my entire life. Thank you so much
This tip changed my life, this will make my life so much easier. Thank you!
Thank you! I have been sewing for 15 years and I finally understand the seam ripper better thanks to you!
I love your voice and energy, such a clear and fun explanation! Thank you! ❤
Ohhhhh.... After so many years I learned something important by you! Incredible! Many thanks!
Wow, I've never seen such speedy seam ripping! Thank you for this informative video!
Thank you for showing me a new use for my seam ripper!! :)
Oh my goodness, how l wish my dear mum was still alive to see your video (I’m 64) l grew up watching my mother sew, she made all our clothes, bridesmaids dresses, her own wedding dress, so much sewing! I too sew, but have always used the seam ripper as my mother did, the other way up and used to unpick single stitches one at a time! Who knew.. my mind is blown! 🤩🤩 Thank you.
Speeds up the process! Amazing, thanks.
I have no idea why UA-cam thought I’d like it here, but oh my did I love the entire video, while learning a thing or two about about seam rippers. Thank you and keep up the amazing work!
I've never sewed anything but got this video in my recommended and loved it. i learned a lot. thx for making it !!!!
Amazing! I've never used the seam ripper in this way before and I can't wait to try! looks like an amazing time saver.
Thank you,Thank you,dear lady! Thank you for teaching me the correct usage of the seam ripper !
Thanks for sharing uses of seam ripper , I didn't know before watching your video.
Absolutely fabulous! Years of doing it the hard way! Thank you for enlightening us!
I know nothing about sewing but this video popped up on my feed. It was very informative, thank you!
I don't know why I'm watching sewing tutorials at nearly 1 in the morning, but thank you for making this video. It was very informative and I enjoyed watching it.
That just seems so much better... Wow. Thank you!
Wow, I never knew the little red ball on a seam ripper had such an important purpose! Thanks for shedding light on this often overlooked tool feature. Now I'll definitely be more mindful when using it to protect my fabrics. Great video!
Drat! I’m 76 and never knew that about seam rippers!!!
Would have saved me time, and grief!!! Thank you❣️
Thank you for sharing your experience
Thank you so much for the video. Never knew this was the correct way to use them.
If I only knew this yesterday!!😲 . Glad I stumbled on this!! Thank you!!😃
Oh my goodness thank you so so so very much!! I’m so excited to pull mine out and try using your methods!!❤
I saw one of these about 25 years ago at my grandmothers house and had no idea what it was. Thank you for solving this mystery.
Thank you for sharing this option. I look forward to watching more of your videos as I start back sewing. I made a t-shirt in school (1985) and I was so proud...
Every day is a learning day. Never knew you could use it that way . Thank you 👍
wow I've been using my seam ripper incorrectly for many, many years! Thanks for this video. Informative and witty.
Oooh!! This is going to make ripping seams so much quicker and more pleasant! Thank you!!❤
I always used it with the red ball on top, this is so helpful!
Thank-you SO much for this video! I have dreaded ripping out seams
for 50 years and now know why. I have been holding the ripper upside down!
This is game-changing! Thank you, Madam!
For years I have wondered about this, thank you.
My grandmother has been sewing bags for over 15 years, and whenever I asked her what these were she neither knew the name of the tool, nor what the red ball was for. She always used these to clean small, hard to reach places on her sewing machine lol. I can share this info now with her, thank you.
Thanks for making this video, I knew this already but I did work it out through trial and error and I often tell people who seem to be struggling with the red point on top to try turning it over so the more people who know the better!
Thank you for showing this. I've never used the seam ripper this way because I wasn't taught this method. This way makes sewing much easier.😃
Just realized no one knew how to use the seam ripper except you!!! Thanks!!!! Can't wait to go home and try it the right way!
Haha, I appreciate the enthusiasm! I can't quite remember how I learned this method of using a seam ripper - it's lost in the fabric of time. But one thing's for sure, I certainly can't claim to have invented it.
I don't sew, I don't know why this video came up in my feed, but I now feel edified that I have learned about the arcane art of seam ripping. Thank you from Weimar, Germany.