Originally Posted by
Sheri.a
I am a fan of ripped fabric to get the straight of grain. When I took 4-H, many moons ago, we were taught to square up fabric in the shape you are showing. Invite a friend to take two corners. You take the other two. You pull the corners opposite each other until the fabric has been straightened out.
I can't say I've needed to do this in a long time.
I'm also from the era of straightening the grain by pulling cross corners. To find the straight crosswise grain we first pulled a thread out across and then used that line as our straight crosswise grain. That was before the perma-press process to fabrics.
I do tear my fabrics when I want to have straight lengthwise-grain borders. I steam press (not iron) the edges.