Pull or Don't Pull

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01-20-2011, 12:22 AM

BrendaK

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:idea: A question for you all. When I was very young (will not say how long ago that was) and took Home Ec. I was taught that you should pull the crosswise threads on the material to straighten it. I have been doing this for a long time and I am now thinking that maybe I don't have to do this for my quilt fabrics. Does anyone else pull threads to straighten fabric? :)

01-20-2011, 12:44 AM

Airwick156

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I don't pull mine. But I remember when I was in junior high school we did that but I couldn't tell you why. But I do remember doing that.

01-20-2011, 12:45 AM

mmonohon

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I learned that too! I don't do it too much, but sometimes it still helps.

01-20-2011, 12:53 AM

quilterella

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We did that in HomeEc class to. At the time I thought it was a waste of time but, the teacher said "you needed to find the true grain of the fabric so it would hang properly." All I can say now is, I'm glad I don't have to do that with my quilting fabric, way too time consuming.

01-20-2011, 01:49 AM

scowlkat

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Don't see what it could hurt. In fact, with some fabric I've had, it was a must!

01-20-2011, 02:15 AM

ckcowl

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only if necessary. if i buy a panal or some fabric that is very obviously 'off-grain' i pull a thread and straighten, most of the time i don't worry about it ...it doesn't seem as important cutting quilt squares as it was cutting out a sleeve. :thumbup:

01-20-2011, 02:15 AM

sew_southern

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Maybe has to do with fabric quality? I think fabric has improved greatly over the last 20-30 years. :)

01-20-2011, 04:53 AM

raptureready

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I remember it too. By the time I made an elastic waist skirt consisting of two rectangles sewn together and a casing put in during Home Ec, I'd already made a winter coat at home. The whole "pull the thread" thing was as ridiculous then as it is now. I did it that once in class, never again.

01-20-2011, 05:03 AM

Stitchnripper

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And how does one do that?

01-20-2011, 06:23 AM

#10

Lori S

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Funny you bring this up , I just did this last night on a piece that was cut REALLY off grain. Getting back to the true grain helps to cut straight strips , without the V or W. If I am working with long strip sets it really helps them from getting curvy.
If I am in a rush I tear some fabrics to get to the true straight.