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Advice please to remove labels

(31 Posts)
Alexa Wed 20-Nov-19 09:02:05

Labels sewn into the back of the neck area are often hard nylon type fabric and they scratch my neck. I try to cut them out but when the garment is a jumper I sometimes leave holes as the stitches are small and tight.

Please does anyone know how to remove or cover up these labels?

Hetty58 Wed 20-Nov-19 09:10:41

I have a little seam ripper in my sewing box and I (carefully) cut through the stitches, individually, from the label side. I find labels unbearably scratchy with my sensitive skin:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183025792859

aggie Wed 20-Nov-19 09:11:09

I would love to know too , I cut them out but either leave a hole or a scratchy bit that I can’t see to remove !
M+S are the worst

Gonegirl Wed 20-Nov-19 09:37:18

I always use my sharp little nail scissors, but still sometimes manage to get a hole.

Alexa Wed 20-Nov-19 10:01:42

Aggie, it's M and S labels that are the worst for me too because I like M and S thin merino wool jumpers. I do use my little nail scissors but there is a critical stage where if I pare too much scratchy nylon off I cut into the wool. I would have thought M and S could improve their image simply with nice ribbon style labels like expensive brands use.

aggie Wed 20-Nov-19 12:42:58

I think I have a seam ripper in my sewing box , good tip , thanksHetty58

Farmor15 Wed 20-Nov-19 14:52:28

Agree about the labels - I don't have particularly sensitive skin, but these labels often seem sewn with a kind of spiky thread and have sharp corners. The stitch rippers work for me, but I wish the manufacturers wouldn't use such irritating labels.

Alexa Thu 21-Nov-19 14:51:59

i treid my stitch ripper which was sold to me under the name of "Quickunpick" but due to my eyesight I can;t see to unpick the tiny tight stitiiches.

MamaCaz Thu 21-Nov-19 15:17:17

I have to use a combination of seam ripper and tiny-bladed embroidery scissors, but it often takes a lot of patience and, in my case, good lighting and reading glasses off but eyes only inches from the label!

Alexa Thu 21-Nov-19 15:20:42

M and S, are you reading this?

Resurgam123 Thu 21-Nov-19 15:24:38

Oh a lot of them are scratchy.
And it is difficult to fully remove them .

We neen a soften our lables campaign.

SpringyChicken Thu 21-Nov-19 15:49:03

Definitely a stitch picker is the way to go. Sometimes, the stitching is very tight and small and the labels are usually doubled over at the ends. Cut off the main part of the label (the section between the stitched ends), as close as possible to the lines of stitching. You will be left with the two rows of stitching and doubled over remnants of label. With the picker, work at the label fabric's cut edges to make them fray. It should be possible to gently pull off/cut off frayed strands until eventually, you have little or no label remaining, just the stitches. Then cut the stitches and tease away the thread.

To minimise the danger of making holes in the garment, resist the temptation to pull the label taught to get at the stitches.

MiniMoon Thu 21-Nov-19 17:20:38

I bought a pair of jeggings from Tesco. They had the most horrible labels, three sewn together with a plastic piece at the back. I assume they use the plastic to hold the labels together as they are sewn in.
I could not unpick the stitching, and when I cut out the label, as close to the seam as possible, I couldn't remove the plastic. Whenever I wear them it still irritates.

SpringyChicken Thu 21-Nov-19 19:19:22

MiniMoon, is the plastic caught in the seam neatening thread? I've used the picker to cut the plastic into tiny shards, then pull them out with tweezers. It's so irritating.

Hetty58 Thu 21-Nov-19 19:24:27

Alexa, my eyesight is not that good either. You may need a magnifier lamp (for crafts) on your Christmas list!

Hetty58 Thu 21-Nov-19 19:37:56

Alexa, M & S management are aware of our struggles now as I contacted them.

MiniMoon Thu 21-Nov-19 20:54:48

Tried the freezer method Springychicken. I could not get the plastic out, and the stitching is so tiny. I think I'll have to see if I can see something smooth over the top.

MiniMoon Thu 21-Nov-19 20:55:12

Sew not see!

MiniMoon Thu 21-Nov-19 20:55:59

Oh heck, tweezer.

Hetty58 Thu 21-Nov-19 21:05:37

There I was wondering what the 'freezer method' was!

annep1 Thu 21-Nov-19 22:51:43

I was looking back too to see the freezer method. ?
Stitch unpicker for me too. Hate labels. I often wonder why they can't think of a better idea.

Farmor15 Fri 22-Nov-19 00:02:31

I have extra strong reading glasses for sewing (or ripping!) and also need good light. Daylight is better than even good reading lamps, so no close work for me in the evenings.

JackyB Fri 22-Nov-19 02:58:25

Sewing a patch of soft smooth cloth over the top is a brilliant idea. It would also prevent the label sticking up at the back of the neck. You see that so often¦it's quite insidious, the wearer isn't aware of it, and everyone else is itching to tuck it back in.

Willow500 Fri 22-Nov-19 05:57:04

I usually cut them out with small scissors - I never thought of using a stitch unpicker - I'll dig mine out and take it upstairs.

I have another problem today - I bought a jumper for a little girl a few weeks ago from Matalan, got it out last night to wrap it as I have to go away today for the weekend and was taking it with me. They've left the security tag in it! We tried all sorts of implements to try and remove it last night but it's impossible so now I'm going to have to take it back and try to explain why it's damaged. Luckily I do have the receipt but how do they explain why the alarm didn't go off when I bought it. Most annoying angry

annep1 Fri 22-Nov-19 10:36:03

That happens regularly Willow.