Originally Posted by QuiltnNan
years ago, no stores cut fabric. the edge was clipped and then the fabric ripped - straight of grain every time. i hate the way some shops cut the fabric on their grid, and don't give you an extra 1/4 inch either, btw. then, when you get home and wash that fabric, it will straighten up and you are left with angular pieces on each end. that's why i always buy extra fabric and consider it part of the cost of the item i am making.
I remember that well. We had a store in New Orleans called Krauss which was family owned and almost an entire floor of the store was dedicated to fabric. They measured using a machine that they passed the fabric through with a dial for the yardage and a lever that made a small cut - then they ripped at the yardage point you were purchasing. The fabric was never as off as the fabric is today as almost all fabric is cut instead of ripped. I usually rip if I have enough fabric.