People passionate about embroidery embrace such a product that comprises embroidered work. However, they love changes and want to see something newer on their stuff, and here comes the necessity of removing embroidery.
This removal requires extra carefulness. Otherwise, you will harm your garment. The process can be a time-consuming tedious task for those who don’t have the know-how.
No worries, this post will provide you with a superb guideline to ease the job. You will be able to remove it perfectly without any damage.
How to Remove Embroidery with a Razor
Removing embroidery by employing a razor is one of the longest embroidery removal methods. Here we will talk about two different methods. For this, it would help if you prepare your equipment first. You will need a disposable single-blade razor void of moisturizer.
Are you ready? Okay, now follow the steps below!
Method One
The razor is a popular means to remove old, unwanted embroidery. In this section, we will show how a general razor can be your savior.
Step 1: No matter you have a T-shirt or a jacket, Turn it inside out before all. It makes you closer to the location of the embroidery stitching.
Step 2: Peel off the backing with a razor. Loosen the stitches by rubbing them repeatedly.
Step 3: Your fabric may have embroidered work with backing. Use your razor blade to make a small cut on that. Then pare it off with your hands.
Step 4: After peeling off the embroidery, you must have seen the bobbin stitches made to hold the embroidery, right? Embroiders make this to hold a design on with the help of an embroidery sewing machine. Now rub your razor on the stitches gently.
Step 5: Keep it up until you are done. That means you need to repeat this process in need.
Step 6: Now it’s time to turn the garment to the right side. By this time, the embroidery design must have been comfortable enough. So remove it by hand!
Step 7: You had better begin wiping threads off from the side of the cloth. Use your hand to pick them up and throw them into the bin. However, do not hesitate to turn your garment inside out and cut off the threads if they are yet to be loose.
Step 9: There may have some loose threads still that are tough to pick up by hand. In that case, use a lint roller to roll over them. It will clean to the utmost!
Thus, your garment will be ready to wear, and even there will be no odd-looking holes where the design was!
Method Two
This time we will dwell on using a stitch eraser. It is known as a mechanical razor. You will see every professional embroider uses this as a MUST. During embroidering, mistakes are common. It is indeed a fantastic tool to amend a mistake faster!
Step 1: Target stitches that are holding the embroidery design and turn your cloth inside out. Like the previous method, you will have to ensure it before all.
Step 2: Now, hold it taut or stretch it out. For this, it would help best if you used a hoop. Or, you can place it on a flat surface. Pull your garment and use pins or needles to hold it in place. It will free your hands to finish the task faster.
Step 3: Next, switch on the stitch erase. By holding the embroidery onto the garment, bring it to the stitches. The sharp teeth of the stitch eraser cut them off easily. Here the chances of fabric damage are zero since it only erases the threads that make the stitches.
Step 4: Then you have to navigate the eraser on the whole backside of the design. It will help you see whether there are any stitches left behind. As a result, you will get it neat and faster.
Step 5: Now, turn the garment back to the right side out after getting finished with cutting. Then start picking off the threads of the embroidered work. There might be some threads that are a bit stubborn. Use tweezers, scissors, or a seam ripper if they do not come off easily.
Step 6: Finally, wipe off all the remaining threads to renew that garment. However, do it gently and carefully lest you make holes in it unexpectedly.
Without damaging fabric, it merely cuts off the stitches. There will be no sign of previous errors. As a result, you will get it as clean as a new product. Not merely that, you can even place another embroidery design immediately on the same point! You will love this handy tool for sure!
How Much Does It Cost to Remove Embroidery?
It is indeed a vital question. You might not be available to do remove it by yourself. Moreover, the removal of an embroidery design from a garment is not simple. Rather, it’s a bit complicated unlike the removal process of stitches during a stitching project. It is a time-consuming job. So an expert will charge you not only for their expertise but for the time too!
And the payment will depend on an expert’s rates and tools. Let’s say that the hired embroider has the right tools. Then that person will do the job shortly for sure and make you pay comparatively more.
Also, it depends on the working module of the embroidery house. If the hired embroider work with assistants, you will have a better result. And this will increase the rate.
How to Remove Monogramming from A Garment?
Well, that can be a need for you. No worries, you can comfortably remove monogramming from a bag, garment, or any other monogrammed fabric. In that case, it would help best if you employed a seam ripper. It will save you a significant amount of time too!
Please note that removing the foundation and stitches of the monogram is necessary. Therefore, like the removal of an embroidery design, you will need to turn your article with the monogram inside out at first.
Now cut off all the stitches holding the monogram onto the fabric using the seam ripper. Be sure that it will consume more time than you expect. Else, it may leave holes in the fabric. No issues, you can shut the holes by ironing. Thus, you can renew your used stuff!
How to Remove Embroidery with Backing
In this section, we will let you know the process of removing embroidery with backing. And for this, it is necessary to learn about embroidery with backing first. It will help you identify if your embroidery has this or not. By this, you will apply the right course of action in need.
Why is Backing Needed on Embroidery?
A stable foundation is a must for any embroidery project, no matter it is a name, pattern, or anything else. This way, you can stabilize the garment you are working on, alright! Also, the chances of causing damages become very low. Remember, it is crucial to ensure good embroidery.
Generally, the backing is familiar as ‘cutaway backing’. You will see its application in all common embroidered clothing such as polo shirts, T-shirts, and fleece items. There are different kinds of cutaway backing.
However, the most common ones are two. These are tearaway backing and mesh backing. Apart from that, basic cutaway backing is there. It is the apt backing for embroidering with a machine.
The fact is, tearaway backing gets torn away. That’s the reason experts consider the rest two as the most reliable methods. Therefore, here we will dwell on the rest two here in this part.
Removal Methods
No matter it’s about hand-embroidery or machine-embroidery, basic backing, or mesh backing, the removing methods are identical. And whatever tactic you choose, having a flat surface for work is a must. It will save your fabric from any damage. Otherwise, the chances are high that you will tear your stuff along with the stitching!
Okay, so it’s time to delve into different techniques of removing embroidery with backing. Get them downright!
Seam Ripper
The seam ripper is one of the most reliable removal methods. Do you use a DIY repertoire or sewing kit? That would have been great as you can keep your seam rippers therein. They feature a claw-like look along with sharp pointy ends. You can employ them for unpicking stitches as they unpick seams efficiently.
Then how you will apply this? Well, for this, you will have to follow a few simple steps. These are as follows!
- Turn the garment inside out.
- Aim at the embroidery backing.
- Then tug away at the threads slowly and gently to loosen them gradually.
- Cut them with sewing scissors or nail scissors.
However, let us also tell you that it is a time-consuming method that requires a lot of patience. In fact, this tactic is most suitable for removing very small amounts of embroidery.
A Stitch Eraser
You would rather be happier with this method since it provides a much faster solution. You will find the stitch eraser a fantastic tool for removing embroidery that is old and non-appealing. It features small, sharp teeth that will perfectly cut away. By look, it matches electric shavers and trimmers. Apart from electricity, it can source power from a battery.
There is no tension of fabric damage with this tool. However, you MUST work on a flat surface for this! Like the previous method, you need to turn the garment inside out before all. Then locate the backing and design. Then operate the stitch eraser over it.
How long you have to do this depends on the amount of embroidery therein. Thus, you can easily remove the aimed embroidered design. And there will be loose threads after picking. Better use seam rippers or tweezers to take them out. You can easily wipe away all of the stitching by turning it back around the right way.
The persons with lesser time will have this method quite handy and favorable. Especially, this is an ideal method to deal with large amounts of detailed embroidery. So you may undoubtedly rely on this for such projects.
Electric Shaver
It is pretty similar to a stitch eraser. It’s been an efficient tool for many, and that’s the reason we are here to recommend this. Like a stitch eraser, an electric shaver features seem teeth. It leverages you to run it over the back of your embroidery with ease.
And the steps to apply this method are similar to that of previous methods. And yes, do not forget to work on a flat surface. It will help you run the shaver along with the embroidery backing smoothly. After erasing the threads, just turn your garment the right way. Finally, rub away the loosened embroidery. That’s it!
Manual Razor
You can also go for a manual razor for removing embroidery. You will find it available everywhere you want. No issues! And it will be wise to get an unused, clean razor for this operation.
For this, typically turn the garment inside out. Then run the razor over the embroidery backing repeatedly. Again, ensuring a firm, flat surface is urgent to get the best result from this technique. Otherwise, you might shave the garment apart from the embroidery accidentally! After loosening all of the design on the backing, brush away the rest of it from the front.
You will find it pretty faster than the seam ripper. However, this will be more time-consuming than the electric shaver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can embroidery be removed and redone?
Answer: No doubt, you can remove an old, outdated, or unwanted embroidery design from your garment, no matter if it is a shirt, cap, or something else. You can apply any of the methods mentioned above and impose a new design there.
Question: Can I seam rip embroidery?
Answer: Yes and you will need a seam ripper for this operation. Actually, stitchers use this to tear stitches to remove them entirely. It is indeed an essential tool for such work.
Question: Will removing embroidery leave holes?
Answer: Yeah, the chances are very high that it will leave holes. However, if you use the right tool in the suggested way, there won’t be any odd-looking holes. Moreover, when you replace another design on the aimed portion, it looks like a new thing!
Question: How do you Unstitch something?
Answer: It is necessary to start from one end of the stitches. For example, you can employ the sharp teeth of the seam ripper. Insert it between the thread and the fabric. Then pull it upward to cut the thread gently. Go to the opposite end and repeat this.
Question: Can you remove embroidery from a backpack?
Answer: Why not! For this, turn your backpack inside out. Then employ the seam ripper to cut the threads. Then start picking the remaining gently.
Question: Can you remove embroidery from Patagonia?
Answer: Insert the sharp end of the seam ripper under the logo threads. Then start slicing them gently. Feel free to pick a few threads at once. However, handle your fabric carefully!
To Sum Up
Now you are fully aware of the know-how to remove embroidery with a razor. Apart from that, some other crucial things like the probable price for doing it through an expert, the removal technique of monogramming from a garment, and embroidery with backing are clear to you.
Hopefully, you have enjoyed this. Overall, it was a small endeavor on our behalf, and it’s been a pleasure!
Have a good day!
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