Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
When did cotton become a delicate? Is it because most quilters didn't start out as clothing sewers?
I'm thinking that the demands on the fabric are different.
Examination under a microscope shows damage to the fibers of a torn edge up to 2 or 3 inches from the edge. Quilters typically use only a quarter-inch seam so it is important that the fabric in that quarter-inch not be compromised, especially if they want their quilts to last for generations. No one wants to see a fraying piece in an old quilt coming apart at the seam.
When sewing garments, it's often important to position pattern pieces on the straight-of-grain so the clothing will drape properly and not stretch out of shape in the wash. Tearing ensures establishment of a straight-of-grain.
Exact grain is not as important in quilting. If fabrics are starched heavily, cutting and piecing can be done accurately even with off-grain and bias pieces and not affect the drape or finished quality of the quilt. With an entire large backing piece, however, an off-true grain is likely to be noticeable to the eye and might actually skew the quilt when the quilt is washed, there being no opposing forces to keep the fabric from shrinking more in one direction than the other. Grainline is most important in the larger border pieces, sashing pieces and backing fabrics; pattern is more important than grainline in the smaller pieces and appliques.
My thoughts on the subject, anyway......