Help please. I'm spatially challenged and just can't work out how to cut a backing from a large piece of fabric. The fabric is approx. 108in by 80in. I want a backing measuring 72in x 61in. My largest cutting board is 35in x 23in. I have a ruler that will allow me to cut the length of the board. I've been trying to work out how to fold and cut the fabric, but it's beyond me, and I'm worried that I'll ruin it by making the wrong cut - have managed in the past to end up with 2 pieces! Folding the fabric is also proving difficult, as I'm on my own, don't have enough space to lay it out and I think it's not been cut anything like straight.

Measure off about 80 inches along the selvedge and snip it and tear it. Yes you'll get strings and fraying but it will be straight and on grain. Do the same for the other direction and give yourself about 6 inches extra.

Scissor Queen is right. Tearing saves time and gives you the straight grain and solves your space problem.

Thankyou both! - will take a deep breath and try this.

tear it don't try to cut it. The back will then be streaight both ways.

OK - I'm going to ask this question. If there is no salvage on the fabric, how do you know which way the grain is? Is it stretch or not stretchy? Can you tell I am really new to this quilting/sewing thing???

The selvedge (straight of grain) side will not stretch. The crosswise cut will stretch, even if only slightly.

Don't forget to cut the backing several inches larger on all sides than what you think you need.

OK - have done it and I now have a nice piece of fabric for my backing, with a good margin all round. And I've learned something: the person who taught me always cut, even if it involved complicated folding - which I can never figure out. Tearing will be a great help.

exactly!

good tip, I needed to know that