In the old dayas, pre-1970, they alwaysw ripped the fabric. Fabric stores had a little machine, about the size of a shoebox, that they would run the edge of the fabric through, it would measure and then they pushed a button and it cut the edge so it could be ripped. Yes, it is more accurate, but it only works with all cotton. Once they started using poly, you could not use the machines anymore so most places got rid of them.