Unpicking seams for clothing alterations takes time, and one of the more frustrating aspects can be unpicking seams that do not seem to release or unravel.  There is an easy way to unpicking seams and a hard way.  I have created a video on unpicking seams - the four most common seams for clothing alterations.

1. 

   unpick cover stitch seam

   Blind hem - How often do these hems fall down when you don't want them to, but when it comes to unpicking one they seem to lock up!  If trousers are going up one hem or less  the hem needs to be dropped, which means unpicking the existing hem.  Learn how to unpick the blind hem in a snap!

2. Chain stitch - Can be found on most garments, particularly jeans.  If the center back of jeans if being taken in, and the center back is a flat felt seam or french seam, it should be converted to a normal stitch and overlock, but that means the chain stitch should be unpicked.  There is a right way and a wrong way to unravel the chain stitch
3. Cover stitch - There are a few varieties of cover stitch.  I have shown you the standard two stitch one.  Like the chain stitch there is a right way and a wrong way to unravel the cover stitch.
4. Over locking - Depending on the fabric overlocking can be easy to unpick or a challenge.  In this video I have shown how to unpick so that the overlock pulls away without leaving any mess behind.

I hope you enjoy the video, and that it saves you time with all that unpicking in the future.  Clothing alterations can be such fun if the frustration of unpicking is taken away.

Happy altering

Judith Turner