Don't feel bad...I just found out that the 28 buttons I bought last night for a project aren't enough. I need 32 (yes, 32!), and JoAnn's is far, far away. And the buttons all need to be sewn on by hand with one on one side of the garment and the other on the other side of the garment (16 pairs), with shanks on both sides. This is a sweatshirt conversion and will be cute when (if) it gets done, but until then, ARRGGHHHH! I feel your pain, talley sue nyc!

I imagine we all hate it. My daughter says the reason she waited so long to really get into sewing was because every seam she sewed I made her rip it out.

It's been a rough week for me trying to tie up loose ends & embroidery projects. I did 30 minute stitch outs on the ends of towels & Susan wanted them on the side to make towel wraps from. Luckily she was able to buy 2 more towels. One we can use as a gift & one a demo. So arrgh!!! from here too!

and black is a horror story to work on.....you have my sympathy!!!

I spent couple of hours last week unsewing (ripping out seams) a Superman easy quilt top I made for DS it just didn't sew right so I made three different pillows from it (One of those large pillow prints)

Ohhh, I feel your pain. I have to admit, I'm getting pretty darn good at ripping seams. Last month I had to rip out 2 buttonholes. Then a few weeks ago, I had finished sewing a pair of shorts for my daughter and had decided to put a decorative stitch along the front waistband. Everything was fine until the final 3 inches. It was a mess that I didn't think would ever get ripped out. I even tried shaving the stitches (not very effective).

Ripping out a seam on dark fabric is the pits! Do it understrong, direct light! it helps a lot.

Lessons to be learned:
1.) make sure your stitch length is long enough to permit easy removal. and always make sure the stitch tension on your machine is properly adjusted.
2.) break the stitching every 3/4-1" for the length of the seam. Break every stitch if the area has been backtacked. GENTLY, pull the seam apart at the backtack and then lift the thread under the broken part of the seam and give a quick tug. The seam should pull out easily and you will have to pluck out minimal standing threads on the side you "broke".

Trust me, I work in the trade and pulling out seams is part and parcel of my daily work. Nothing cheeses me off more than having to yank out something I did improperly... I couldn't care less about ripping out a seam on repair!

Reminds me of my mother when I was learning to sew.....I think I ripped out more than I sewed.
I still rip out mistakes and feel my mom, sitting next to me, patiently.

The only thing worse that ripping seams is finding out your bobbin ran out after the first 2 inches on a VERY long seam.

My sister uses cuticle scissors and a friend swears by surgical scalpels to rip seams.

I wholeheartedly agree with good lighting, deep breaths and patience at these times.

Oh boy! I can relate = J

FWIW, when I worked for a manufacturer, I learned a trick from the other ladies there - use the presser foot as a clamp & snip or cut the stitches from between the layers & pull the layers apart as you go - it's very fast & works fine with most sturdy fabrics.

I also learned to 'rip back' (I think it's called) in school - you pull the thread end as far as it'll go & cut or break it off , then turn to the other side & do it again w/ the other, now loosened end.

Much faster than those seam rippers - & less likely to pick or cut the fabric - NOT for delicate fabrics tho....

I do a combo of all these techniques, depending on my patience level. Except for that trick w/ the presser foot.

I actually like the seam ripper, because I feel that I can be more precise--of course, it's slower, but I can slip the very tippy tip under a thread on the surface and tell before I pull whether I've got sewing thread or fabric.

Oh, and the lighting was crummy--the bulbs have been slowly dying, and DH wouldn't replace them all at once. Grr. So, after that experience, I MADE him replace them all, AND I took the shades off the stupid chandelier. Can you say "night game"?

dian57, I think I'd rather run out of bobbin thread--i'd feel goofy,not completely stupid the way ripping out makes me feel.

But, I got through a long dress, a long cloak, a tunic, and a cone-shaped hat (made it twice, once in felt and once in lining fabric) with only one seam to rip out.

I've been 'there' a few more times than I'd like to admit. But I've found a solution that works 90% of the time - turn it into a french seam or flat fell seam! To me, it's easier than ripping a seam out and less wear & tear on the fabric.