Artsyfartsy

I tend to buy the bolt if its almost gone to make sure there are no bad cuts, save what's all ready there. It's saved me aggravation at JoAnns loads of times.

At our LQS they are very fussy about cuts, and take pains to keep things straight. I've never had an off cut there ever. (Yes I do treasure them)

purplefiend

When I buy fabric at Joanns I ask for at least a 1/4 yard extra so that I get my full amount as most of the time the yardage wasn't wound straight on the bolt at the factory and then the employee cuts it badly to make matters worse. I make lots of charity quilts and the extra leftover part doesn't go to waste.

Annya

When the fabric is torn it is not always straight. I have learned that the hard way. even now after washing the fabric, trying to line up the selvages that it can be up to 3inches out and being a pensioner I cannot afford to buy extra all the time. Both of my LQS's always cut but they line up the fabric before putting them onto the boards.

JoAnnGC

Ditto...I love them!!!

butterflywing

sometimes the pattern is off - sometimes the grain is off - sometimes they both are. this is what happens: the fabric goes through a printing machine. it's held in place on both edges (selvedges) by little teeth on a belt. the belt runs the printed fabric along at an even speed. HAH! that's where the problem is. if the belts on each side are going at even slightly different speeds, the grain is off and it pulls the printed pattern with it. the printed fabric is then treated to maintain the stiffness and color. it also maintains the grain, which is now off. so the pattern is locked in at that angle. since the pattern can't be yanked back where it belongs (because the fabric is wonky), they can't cut with it. it'll never work out no matter what you do. if they try to cut with the pattern, the store is the one that loses 3 - 4 inches on every customer. they can't stay in business that way. years ago, when quality meant something and manufacturing was done here, the grain was much truer. now that companies are sending manufacturing jobs out to non-union countries with little or no oversight, the quality has gone to pot.

it's the fault of the manufacturer. they are responsible for the printing of the fabric. write or email a letter of complaint to them and also complain to the fabric store, and be sure to tell them why. your LQS should NOT be doing business with that company. forget joann's. they'll do business with any company for the right price point.

sorry about the rant. i hope i explained the grain thing in a way that's understandable.

Annya

I always wash mine in buckets for different colors, starting with the one less likely to bleed up to the ones that bleed a lot. I some times have up to 1/2 dozen containers with hot soapy water. in them/ then I rinse the lot in warm water in the same order, that way I can't lose too much threads. Salt and vinegar is added if i have to wash the fabric a second time to set the dye. It does work for me anyway.

Eddie

The Wal-Mart that I buy fabric from always adds a few extra inches to every cut. Often, if there's less than a yard left on the bolt they just throw it in free. However, one LQS I go to they generally ALL cut it 1/2" or so over the requested size, so it's obvious that they've all been trained to do that. At another LQS, they ALL cut it EXACTLY at the requested size, no overage. So frequently, I get shorted a bit there.

catrancher

I remember my grandmother and grandfather had one of these. They were the only people I knew who didn't have a modern washing maching, and I was fascinated by it. I can remember watching my grandfather running things through the wringer, and how perfectly squished and flat they came out on the other side. I could have watched him for hours.

Aunt Retta

I usually help the girls get fabric laid out straight. I haven't shown them to cut on the pattern line, but maybe I will. I got about 1/3 a yard of fabric the other day to make doll clothes from. It was cut so bad the cut before mine that I lost about 3 inches on one side!

I remember when they would give you an extra inch or so just to make sure they didn't short you!

fatqtrjunkie

I work behind the cutting counter and I try my best to please all of you. However, we are not mind readers and if you think you might need those extra 2 inches then request them. We have very strict guidelines to follow and cannot just cut 2" here or three" there. Also, I can only cut in certain increments of a yard, so if you need 21" then I have to cut 5/8yd (23.5). I could go on about pet peeves with some customers but I won't.