:oops: Another one who tears here :oops:
I don't hesitate to tear long strips; I like border fabric, for example, and it doesn't leave one room for a whole lot of error. If the fabric is good quality and tightly woven (and I'm not tearing like a banshee :wink: ) I haven't had any problems. I did that on the quilt we use upstairs; it gets washed a couple of times a week, and no problems at all. It was a Moda border print on my Pine Creek Crossing quilt:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/16968.page I also tore the strips on the Poinsettia Quilt top:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/15262.page
I have some fabric I bought when I first started quilting that is thin, and feels 'stretchy' to me - I wouldn't even attempt tearing it. Good fabric shouldn't be a problem, tho. JMHO :D