lots of shops tear the fabric...the tear runs along the grain-line insuring you get a straight piece of fabric. when it is only cut often you get shorted...one end could be off by a number of inches! so although you get a stringy edge at least it is straight. and you only have to trim less than 1/2" to get rid of the strings...when it's been cut you could have to cut off 6" to get it straight.