Originally Posted by Eddie
I went to a LQS that I don't ordinarily go to today at lunch. I wanted to get some off-white background fabric for a quilt I'm contemplating, and the LQS I normally go to is closed on Mondays. This shop I went to today is more of a sewing / smocking kind of place, although maybe 1/6th of the store footprint is the quilting area. The lady at the quilting counter was helpful and showed me various fabrics to help me make a selection. I told her I wanted 2 yards so she measured it out and make a small cut in the selvedge. I figured she was marking where she was going to cut. She then picked up the fabric in both hands and RIIIPPPPED is from side to side. :shock: :shock: :shock: I know I probably visibly cringed when she did it.
It seems like fabric ripped like this would be likely to be skewed in the process? Yes? No? I've only been to like maybe a half dozen LQSs, but at all of them they simply rotary cut the material, or even at Wal-Mart they just use scissors. Do other places rip fabric before your very eyes like this?
Actually, it rips ON THE GRAIN (the cross grain); but the grain isn't always heat set staight so when it is ripped it appears to be ascew.
When this happens, I usually lose a little bit by serging along the ripped edge. This will prevent the threads fronm getting tangled in the wash. If you desire to have the fabric on the true grain (if ypu want stripes straight, etc) you can pull it on the bias (opposite corners) and continue to do so until the ripped edge is straight. I bet that is as clear as Louisiana mud. :lol:
When cutting borders and bindings on the straight grain (following the selvege) I rip but allow a little extra that I can trim off to remove the threads. Then I know my pieces will be straight.