How to Remove an Embroidery Stitch With a Machine

Remove machine embroidery from the back of the fabric.

Machine embroidered stitching on fabric items is secured tightly to the fabric. The stitch created is seen on both the front and the back of the fabric. Mistakes are made when stitching a design by using the wrong colored thread, placing the embroidery in the wrong place or by the machine acting up while stitching creating knots or un-uniformed stitching on the front of the fabric. Removing the stitching made by an embroidery machine is time consuming and tedious. The thread must be removed carefully to avoid cutting or tearing the fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Electric Stitch Remover
• Embroider hoop
• Packing tape
• Seam ripper
• Sharp pointed embroidery scissors
• Tweezers

Instructions

Electric Stitch Remover Method

1. Secure the embroidered area in an embroidery hoop.

2. Lay the embroidered fabric on a flat stable work surface. Place the stitching, so the backside is facing up.

3. Align the blades of the electric stitch remover perpendicular to the bobbin stitching. Turn on the machine.

4. Draw the electric stitch remover over the bobbin stitches carefully. Stop when across the stitching. Turn the embroidered design over and brush the loose threads from the fabric. Repeat the process until all stitches are removed.

5. Tear a 6-inch piece of packing tape from the reel. Tape the ends of the packing tape together to form a circle. Make sure the sticky side is out. Place your fingers through the circle. Pat the tape on top of the embroidered area to remove any excess strings. Use a tweezers to remove stubborn stitches.

Manual Method

1. Turn the embroidered design over and work on the back of the design. Place the design on a flat stable work surface. Do not attempt to remove the stitching by holding the fabrics. The folds create unnecessary bulges where the seam ripper or scissors can cut the fabric.

2. Carefully insert the seam ripper or the sharp pointed end of the embroidery scissors under the thread. Be careful not to go through the fabric itself.

3. Cut the thread under the area where the embroidery is bad or is not desired. Clip or cut one thread at a time.

4. Pull the thread from the fabric with a tweezers. Continue the process until all desired embroidery stitches are removed.

5. Remove the tiny stitch holes in the fabric by rubbing your fingernail over the openings. Scratch back and forth on the fabric to move the threads into their original positions.

References

• Lindee G Embroidery: How to Remove Machine Embroidery