laralea

I just have to share my small victory.
I live 75 miles from the nearest JoAnn Fabrics, which is in Columbia SC. A couple weeks ago I was in Columbia for another purpose and stopped in at JoAnn's. I purchased a beautiful flimsy lavendar poly fabric for a divider curtain. When I got home, I tore the ends off to get a straight edge. By the time I had done that, I no longer had enough fabric for the curtain. I was in Columbia yesterday and went to get more fabric. I explained to the person cutting fabric that I had lost a significant portion of what I had previously purchased and asked if I could tear the fabric and purchase whatever extra I tore off. She said no - customers aren't allowed to cut or tear the fabric. So I said, how about if I purchase then tear it? She said that was fine but I couldn't return it. So I can't have it straight and I can't return it crooked??! I knew there was a risk that I would buy, get home, tear, then have to go back for more. I had her cut 5/8 yd thinking that would give me an extra 1/8th just in case. I then paid for it, but I wasn't ready to accept that I would again have to pay for unusable fabric and drive 150 miles to get more if I didn't have enough. I went back to the cutting table and was lucky enough to get a different person to help me. I tore the fabric right there, fully expecting to only make my point and avoid another trip. After tearing the fabric, it measured 17 inches, a loss of 5.5 inches. The clerk decided to replace the fabric and decided to tear one side of the fabric to create a straight edge, then cut the other side. Before she cut it, she decided to go ahead and tear it!! She gave me 5/8 of a yard - all nice and straight! Here's the photos I took this time - sure wish I'd taken some of the first piece I bought. This fabric is 9.99/yd. with 30% off. I'm so tired of paying for fabric that has a built in loss factor once straightened and I wasn't giving up easily this time - maybe because it's pricey fabric. I love that Mary Jo's always tears fabric - at least I know it will be straight and if it also happens to be printed off-grain, it can easily be caught before purchase.