they used to rip most fabrics - but, back then, most fabric was 100% cotton and made 'better' than today's fabric. The only fabric I rip at the store is velvet (after snipping the selvage) and the smocked summer dress fabric (cut thru smocking and then tear the lower part). I would not trust any other fabric to rip straight. You may still not have a completely straight edge because of the pulling and twisting that is done to the fabric in today's production process, but I think there is less loss than with ripping.