Seam Rippers & Stitch Rippers

Every sewing kit needs a seam ripper, and most of us reach for it more often than we'd like to admit. This small selection covers stitch rippers in two sizes: compact ones for close work and unpicking a few stitches, and larger handled ones that are easier to grip when you've a whole seam to take out. All of them will also open a machine-stitched buttonhole cleanly.

Prym - Small Stitch Ripper - Purple

Prym - Small Stitch Ripper - Purple

Prym ergonomic small stitch ripper 11.3cm for unpicking seams and removing stitches cleanly.

Regular price €4,95 p/u
Stitch Ripper - Large

Stitch Ripper - Large

Enhance your sewing toolkit with this large stitch ripper, crafted for both durability and ease of use.

Regular price €1,95 p/u
Stitch Ripper - Small

Stitch Ripper - Small

Small stitch ripper for unpicking seams, removing stitches cleanly and accurately.

Regular price €1,95 p/u
Prym Love - Stitch Ripper - Pink

Prym Love - Stitch Ripper - Pink

Prym Love stitch ripper 13.5cm for unpicking seams and removing stitches with ease.

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Regular price €6,95 p/u
Prym - Large Stitch Ripper - Purple

Prym - Large Stitch Ripper - Purple

Prym large stitch ripper 13.5cm for unpicking seams and removing stitches with ease.

Regular price €6,95 p/u
Sewing Starter Kit - Basic - 8pc
Sold out

Sewing Starter Kit - Basic - 8pc

Kit includes Prym scissors, pins, thimble, chalk, stitch ripper, tape measure, needles, and threaders.

Regular price €24,95 p/u

A seam ripper is a short forked blade with a sharp inner curve and a point on one prong. The point slides under a single stitch, the curve cuts it, and the ball on the other prong protects the fabric underneath. It's a simple tool, and the only thing that really matters is that the blade is sharp. A blunt ripper drags at the cloth instead of cutting the thread, which is how holes happen.

Two sizes cover most needs. A small ripper is easier to control for detail work: picking out a few stitches, unpicking topstitching, working close to a corner. A larger handle gives you more to hold on to and is more comfortable if you're taking out a long seam or working with arthritic hands. Both do the same job, and plenty of sewists keep one of each: the small one lives by the machine and the big one comes out when something has gone properly wrong.

How to unpick a seam without damaging the fabric

Work from the wrong side wherever you can, so any snags land where they won't show.
Slide the point under one stitch at a time and push forward against the curve. Don't run the blade along the seam like a knife.
On a long seam, cut every third or fourth stitch on one side, then pull the opposite thread and it will lift away in one piece.
Brush the loose thread ends off with a lint roller or a piece of sticky tape rather than picking at them.
Give the seam a press before you restitch, so the old needle holes close up.

Opening buttonholes

A seam ripper is the standard tool for opening a machine-stitched buttonhole. Push a pin through the bar tack at each end first so the blade can't run past it, then cut from the middle outwards towards each pin. Doing it from the centre rather than from one end keeps the cut straight and stops the ripper punching through the tack.

Safety and care

The blade is genuinely sharp, so replace the cap when it's not in use and keep it away from children. Rippers dull with use rather than dramatically, so if you find yourself pushing harder than you used to, it's time for a new one at this price rather than a struggle. For cutting tools generally, see our scissors and cutters, and for the rest of the kit our haberdashery and sewing supplies.

What is a seam ripper used for?

A seam ripper is used to cut and remove stitches: unpicking a seam that's gone wrong, taking out tacking or basting, removing a hem for alterations, and opening machine-stitched buttonholes. It's designed to cut thread without cutting the cloth around it.

Is a stitch ripper the same as a seam ripper?

Yes. The two names describe the same tool, and which one you hear depends mostly on where you learned to sew. Some people also call it an unpicker or a quick unpick.

How do you use a seam ripper safely?

Work from the wrong side, slide the point under one stitch at a time, and push forward so the thread meets the curve of the blade. Keep your other hand behind the blade rather than in front of it, and cap the ripper when you put it down. Never drag it along a seam under pressure.

Can a seam ripper damage fabric?

It can if it's blunt or if it's used like a knife along the seam line. A sharp ripper used one stitch at a time cuts thread and leaves the cloth alone. Fine and loosely woven fabrics need the most care, so go slowly and work from the wrong side.

What size seam ripper should I buy?

A small one is easier to control for close work and fits in a travel kit. A larger handle is more comfortable for long seams and gives you a better grip. If you're only buying one, the larger handle is the more comfortable all-rounder.