Does tearing fabric weaken it.
#31
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13
You are absolutely correct. i am a long time dressmaker, we used to tear and "straighten" all our fabric. It was a disaster on loosely woven fabrics. that was also when we wanted the pattern on the fabric to be lined up perfectly with the selvages. One lost a lot of fabric in this process. The whole idea of tearing has been out of my methods for at least 25 years. Let me know of the result under the microscope.
Annette
Annette
#32
I don't tear it anymore because of the distortion it seems to cause. I use my rotary cutter for all straight cuts. I've noticed that most of the quilt shops I go to don't tear anymore either - they use a rotary cutter.
#33
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.
Capitol bldg. in Lansing, Mi and we kept watching to see if the flag was lowered and sadly, eventually it was. Sorry about getting off the topic.
#34
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 206
I heard too from a local quilt store that by tearing the fabric it reduces raveling when you wash the fabric. Yes, there is some waste, but if you're putting that much time into creating a lifetime memory wouldn't you want it be sustainable throughout the years?
#36
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.
#37
Originally Posted by nursie76
I used to think that tearing was the best way to get it straight, but I think it distorts the fabric and that part needs to be trimmed off, so there may be a little more waste.
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW
Posts: 7,940
So, with all the hard and fast rules about being sure our quilt pieces are on "straight of grain", if we cut all our fabric with rotary cutters we know for sure that that will not be the case. However, I think that with the quality of fabric now, as long as it is "close" to being on grain it will hold shape pretty well. I think fabric is probably much better woven these days and less likely to distort. At least I hope so, as I have made many quilts using only rotary cutting, and would hate to think that all those little pieces in all those quilts are going to distort and shift as they are used and washed.
This whole topic may be making a mountain out of a molehill!!! If you want to tear, tear. If you want to rotary cut, do that.
This whole topic may be making a mountain out of a molehill!!! If you want to tear, tear. If you want to rotary cut, do that.
#39
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.
#40
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.
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