Help needed for cutting large fabric pieces
#11
Originally Posted by Barb M
Don't you find when you rip fabric it stretches the fabric along the tear? I know that's happened when i've tried it, so now i just fold it real accurate onto my cutting mat and cut
:D
Elle
#13
I'm a firm believer in tearing BUT a few weeks ago I bought some white muslin to dye, it was $4+ per yd. I snipped and ripped 4 yds of it into fats and dyed my heart out all day. After the final wash I dried it and began to iron only to find that not a single one was straight! If you folded them in 1/2 in any direction the other edge was off 4-5 inches. I'm glad they were just for me but I was still dissappointed. I guess it must have been something about the weave? That's the first time I've ever had a problem, and if you RIP it quickly and not just slowly tear you'll have less stretch, and what little you do have is easily ironed out like someone said.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,097
Good quality, evenly-evenly woven cotton fabrics will tear straight. If it doesn't tear straight, it's probably not worth using!
For a long time, I thought tearing was inferior somehow, but eventually I learned to appreciate that nice straight edge. It does distort about 1/8" - 1/4" on the torn edge, but it would be equally hard to cut a perfectly straight edge on a 5 yard long piece. I have been using a rotary cutter for 22 years, and I think my "margin of error" is better with tearing!
For a long time, I thought tearing was inferior somehow, but eventually I learned to appreciate that nice straight edge. It does distort about 1/8" - 1/4" on the torn edge, but it would be equally hard to cut a perfectly straight edge on a 5 yard long piece. I have been using a rotary cutter for 22 years, and I think my "margin of error" is better with tearing!
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,097
Originally Posted by kathy
I'm a firm believer in tearing BUT a few weeks ago I bought some white muslin to dye, it was $4+ per yd. I snipped and ripped 4 yds of it into fats and dyed my heart out all day. After the final wash I dried it and began to iron only to find that not a single one was straight! If you folded them in 1/2 in any direction the other edge was off 4-5 inches. I'm glad they were just for me but I was still dissappointed. I guess it must have been something about the weave? That's the first time I've ever had a problem, and if you RIP it quickly and not just slowly tear you'll have less stretch, and what little you do have is easily ironed out like someone said.
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