Don't get me started on raveling! I am making a quilt for my granddaughter that uses 3 fabrics. Two are from Walmart; one is from the LQS. I bought the 2 from WM on sale for about $2/yard, paid $10+/yard for the LQS fabric. Guess which one ravels to the point of being almost useless?

Yup. The pricey one. I am now thinning some elmers glue and coating the cut edges of the pricey fabric so that I an use it without it raveling. (I know there are products that can be used to lessen fraying, but I have allergies that are irritated by any spray products and scents. Using elmers washable glue is tedious, but doesn't make me feel sick, so that's what I use.)

Have to say that I have purchased 'cut' fabric that was cut on such an angle that I've losts 6" of useable fabric. Now I check it before I leave the store.

I don't think anybody mentioned this but... it's not that the stores can't cut straight - rather that the fabric is stretched off-grain during the process of wrapping it on the bolt. And often it's just on one side of the fold that it gets tugged out-of-shape, and the other side is just fine. I have no idea why it happens that way.

Wow...another example of learning something new everytime I come here! Didn't realize there were such divided camps between cutting/ripping. I've only had fabric ripped once, and I hated it...it distorted the fabric, and it ripped at a funny angle. My local Joanns cuts, and they're always very generous as to their measurements. At Mill End she ripped for the customer before me, but cut my fabric.

Nan is right - we as shop owners get such atrocious wraps from the distributors that it's not anywhere near funny. We try to straighten, give extra inches, etc, but sometimes it's just a losing proposition.

It all goes back to the work ethic and care taken by the people who are doing the bolting. Oftentimes that's sorely lacking...

When I purchased fabric -in her tent at the park--in Paducah, Ky, all of Eleanor Burns clerks were tearing the yardage from the bolts. I think it is fine. However you like it is fine.........either way.

I also like my fabric cut. I went to a warehouse like place a month ago and they tear there orders, except I bought some fleese and they cut that. Real nice fleese for 3.99 Yd

There used to be a shop near us that did that. Sis and I asked them to cut it and they very nicely did.

Only want it cut! Won't take it if they rip it.

Nan