Originally Posted by jljack
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Almost all fabric used to be torn when you bought it. The stores had a measuring thing they pulled the fabric thru and when it was the amount you wanted they'd push on it and it would cut a notch and then the clerk would tear the fabric.
Oh, Queen!!! I had forgotten all about that little tool in the fabric shops....it had a dial on the top that moved like a clock as they pulled the fabric through, and then the little cutter mechanism that made the notch to tear the fabric. WOW!! I would never have remembered that!!! I recently was at a quilt show where a vendor was tearing the fabric she sold. I was fascinated, and she said that's the only way she knows the fabric is straight on grain, and she would never do it another way.
Thanks gals for this wonderful memory! My Grandmother used to work in notions at a department store in the 1950's when I was a kid. I believe there was extra always provided before the notch was cut in the folded portion of the fabric so that the tear then went simultaneously toward both selvages.
[Remember the tubes that took money and then brought back receipts? Slupp...wishk! :D]
To prevent raveling, snip just a small corner in each selvage by the cut.
I do like to tear lengths for borders. Borders are much better made from lengths for a number of reasons. When I have to sew a border from a width for whatever reason---well, it can get purty ugly 'round here dealing with the distortion possible in that that process! ;-)
When I do tear the length of the fabric for borders, I make them wider than I need and cut off the distorted edges, which is very easy to do at that point. The secret is in generously planning for this in advance.