How to Remove Embroidery From Shirts

You just found a beautiful blouse. The style is perfect, the color will look great on you and it fits! But there is one small problem: The manufacturer has embroidered a design you don't like. Fortunately, you do not have to live with the undesirable embroidery. Simply use a seam ripper to remove the embroidery stitches.

Things You'll Need

• Seam ripper
• Tweezers

Instructions

1. Insert the sharp point of the seam ripper underneath one of the embroidered stitches on the shirt. To remove the stitch, "Threads" magazine's website instructs lifting and cutting the thread with the seam ripper. To avoid marring the fabric when removing stitches, the sewing website advises working from the back.

2. Pull out each stitch as you cut it. "Threads" magazine suggests using a pair of tweezers to remove the stitches.

3. Continue lifting, cutting and tweezing each stitch on the back of the embroidered design until it is completely removed. Turn the shirt over and remove any remaining stitches on the front.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice using a seam ripper before attempting to remove the embroidery from the shirt. For practice, the "Kids Sewing Projects" website suggests sewing a few rows of stitches on a scrap of fabric then removing with a seam ripper.

• If any dye remains, cover the area with stain remover and wash the shirt according to the garment label instructions.

References

• Threads: Bungled Buttonholes
• Kids Sewing Projects: Kids Sewing Lessons Level 4