anyone else remember the days when they clipped and ripped the fabric?
#171
I for one always tear - rip my fabric when I want nice straight strips from the selvage sides. It just never goes wrong when torn. WOF fabric I use the method taught to line up the fabric selvages together and make sure the center bottom is draping right, if not i adjust it until it is, by sliding the selvages side to side until it is draping straight.
Then I square up the ends. And cut my strips wof.
Then I square up the ends. And cut my strips wof.
#172
I bought some fat quarter packs at JoAnn last week. One I had each of them straightened I ended up with a few inches that was unusable. I wish the standard way to cut was to tear instead. It would be nice to have true fat quarters.
#174
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 862
Obviously, ripping vs. cutting is a personal preference. I appreciate when a quilt shop that rips ASKS me first if ripping is ok. I've had fabric ruined from ripping (thread across the entire length pulled as a result of ripping), so the idea that it is a harmless method is not true. On the other hand, I have had fat quarters that were clearly cut from yard goods that were never checked for grain. Honestly, on most pieces of fabric, it is easy to see the grain and I have bad eyesight!
#175
Once in a while I go to this shop where the owner must be in her 80s, her daughter and grandaughter help her out. Everytime she measures and sells fabric she tears it. She said the scissors are too hard on her hands. She is so generous with the amounts, but the best is when she tells stories when she was young, they made all their own clothes, towels, sheets etc.
#178
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: york county, PA
Posts: 940
I sort of remember 'straightening' the piece of fabric, if the ripped edges didn't meet. Something about folding the fabric at right angles to the grain and then stretching it to straighten out. No one else did this?
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