As Ye Sew...

...so shall ye RIP!

Original layout with outer
blocks bordered in brown. 

You might remember, if you've been reading about my progress with the Temecula Quilt Co.'s "Scavenger Hunt" sew-along, that I had two outer borders that didn't fit and that I decided I really didn't like, anyway. I laid everything aside before my trip up to Hampton, VA; deciding to tackle the dismantling of those twenty two blocks when I returned. One of the first vendor booths that I stopped at while visiting MidAtlantic Quilt Festival was Bucklebee Tools and Patterns. They were demo-ing the "razor ripper"; I stood in line to buy one right then and there!*

The demonstration was compelling (hence, the long lines to purchase!); folding flat the seam to be removed (see photo above, left) and placing the ripping tool at the top of the seam, holding firmly, one draws steadily downward and the tool smoothly removes the stitches (it feels almost like pulling down on a zipper). The photo directly above is from their website. They sell the razor rippers separately, or combined with this clever silicone-tipped wooden stiletto which effectively "erases" away the thread bits from the newly released seams. Knowing the job that I had ahead of me, I bought the set and an additional ripper!

I got to the task last week; before long I had made small work of removing the offending triangles and added my new setting triangles right away. This ripping tool** really did work well and I can recommend it highly. Also, that handy-dandy little silicone-tipped tool is perfect for holding back the edges when taking small blocks (like these) to the iron for pressing-- no more singed fingertips!

The newly bordered quilt: this is the final pieced row. 

An, ta-da, here is the finished flimsy, with its scrappy borders 

Those teeny-tiny blocks inside the borders finish to 1", I added multiples for effect.

Quilting has commenced. 

Life is Good!

Up next: Lessons Learned

* I bought the tools because of the awesome demonstration. If I had not seen these demo-ed I would have had NO IDEA what the tools were or how to use them. After that. I did notice them at other booths, at various prices, sitting idly in cups.

** I learned that the original use for these tools was as a "peach fuzz" shaver for ladies and that they come from the cosmetic aisle. Having said that, again-- there are all various prices attached to these tools, I can only vouch for the ones that I actually purchased as noted above. I have no idea if there are different manufacturers or varying levels of quality.