1/4 yd-----WOF
 

In another thread, there's discussion about fat quarters vs. 1/4 yd cuts. How do you get a quarter yard cut so that you actually have 9" of fabric when you get home? Most of the cutters around here are so sloppy that I'd by a half a yard if I wanted 9" of usable fabric. There have been times I've lost as much as 9" off a corner when trying to square up fabric.

I've had that same thing happen. I always buy 1/4 to 1/2 yard extra anyway for shrinkage when I wash and for squaring up.

I guess the best way would be to stand right there and ask them to be very careful about the 9 inches or.....buy a little more.

: )

Instead of buying half a yard, why not ask for one-third of a yard. That's 12 inches instead of 18. If you can't get nine usable inches out of that, I'd complain to the store manager about how sloppy the employees are on fabric cutting.

I guess I'm lucky. In most of the places I buy fabric in my area, the cuts are usually made one or two inches beyond the measurement I ask for, so I have a little bit of room to get my full amount.

Some clerks don't like to see me ... I watch them cutting the fabric, often asking them to square it up before cutting my piece. Sometimes I check it again throughout the piece just to be sure. I've even bought 3 or more inches more than I need just to be sure I have enough fabric. And yes, I've returned fabric that doesn't meet my expectations when I get home. Customer service needs to be improved and it's up to the customer to set the standards.

I'm with you, I stand there and watch them like a hawk. Then I take the piece and place the folded edge to the selvedge and if it isn't the same width I ask them to remeasure and recut if it isn't 9" at both the fold and selvedge. I also have taken back fabric thay isn't cut properly or shrinks and twists so badly when washed it's not even near 9". JoAnn's is famous for sloppy cutting in my town, plus the gals are a bit rude. My LQS usually overcuts by a few inches or throws in the last few inches on the bolt instead of offering them to me at 50% off.

If I need 9" of fabric, I NEVER get just 1/4 yard. 1/3 yard just costs a smidgen more. Even getting a 1/3, you have to watch to see that both ends are cut straight.

One of the things I've learned to do when buying fabric:

I try to remember to check to see if the fabric looks like it's 'straight' while it's still on the cardboard.

Is it printed on-grain? If it's printed off-grain, I don't even bother to take it home.

Has it gotten pulled 'off-grain' in the manufacturing and packaging processes? It may or may not go back to being 'on-grain' after it has been washed and dried. (Doesn't matter who the manufacturer is/was)

The cutters will probably cut the fabric perpendicular to the selvage edge or fold - regardless of what the actual fabric grain lines are.

Exceptions that I've seen. I saw someone pull a thread on an expensive silk to get the cutting line, and I've seen cutters cut along a thread on a woven plaid.

If I'm buying WOF cuts, a third of a yard is the smallest cut I'll buy.

The cutting to really watch is when buying wide backing. It is folded twice on the bolt and even tho the cutter may give a few extra inches, it never comes out right. I have lost as much as 12" on a 3 yd piece. I try to get them to tare the fabric because it is expensive to have to buy extra wide backing.

Go to the stores that rip the fabric. This gives you exactly what you want. The crooked cuts to the straight of grain are because of the way the fabric is loaded on the bolts. Machine stretch the fabric as it winds....

I guess I am guilty of over buying, I always buy one half to a yard more to make sure I have enough in case I mess up or decide to change the pattern. Nothing upsets me more than starting a project and not having enough fabric.

JoAnn employees are taught to cut to the exact amount, but some are sloppy. I have had fleece recut because the amount I ask for is the amount I need, not two inches less on one end. It does get you a dirty look, but I don't care. They are also taught to cut woven plaids on a line, not on the fold, but how many of today's employees recognize a woven plaid? My LQS owner cuts a little extra, but her husband and daughter are more exact. If I need 9", I buy 1/3 yard to allow for shrinkage as I am a prewasher now. I do find more shrinkage in width than length so I could probably get by with the 1/4 yard.

How do you get what you are paying for? Ask for it.

So if you ask for a quarter of a yard, you just assume you're getting 9" of usable fabric?

I don't know if any stores around here rip. I've been tempted to ask, but so far never ahve.

I watch them lay out the fabric and then make them measure from the shortest part. They get annoyed with me too. I tell them that I want a yard, a full 36". Not 36" at one end and 32" at the other.
I had a cutter tell me they couldn't do it and I asked them politely to get a manager. The piece in question was horribly cut previously and if I hadn't made a fuss the cutter was going to give me a really weird shaped piece. The manager came and told her to do what I said.

Reverse psychology - I tell the cutter that their shop is the best one in the area when it comes to cutting, and then describe what I mean by best. When I'm done, they know what I expect and most often I get it. But it doesn't work every time...

They sure wouldn't like me if that happened! I want what I'm paying for, but especially at today's fabric prices. If the person cutting the fabric cannot measure properly they don't belong behind the cutting counter.

The people behind the cutting counter at Joann's are extremely stingy in their measurements, and I'm sure they've been trained to be that way, but I get disgusted when I get home and find that I have several inches less than I paid for, even before I wash it, so I'm also picky about who cuts my fabric.

Then there's the cost of gas these days, and they know that most people won't come back and complain. Ok, so I sound cheap...but it's my money, not theirs.

I love this statement. Let's all get it written on our checks!!!

Jan in VA

I think some employees are trained to try to stretch the fabric as much as they can before cutting it, too!

The reason for poorly cut fabric has all to do with the Joann's and other large fabric retailers not having as many stores in our area. I live in the 7th largest city in the USA and we only have 2 Joanns in the whole city. Now why do you suppose that is? Could it be because of the POOR customer service, and the teaching every employee to cut fabric EXACTLY as ordered, not what is straight or of the fariest amount to the customer. What do you think the price of fabric at Joanns would be if they stuck to the market of 3x cost across the board, instead of jacking the price and offering a coupon? LOL

Rolled eyeballs and dirty looks from clerks! They are doing what they are taught. I don't go to Joann's anymore! I end up feeling like an ogre for asking for a full measure.

I always buy more than the instructions call for. I can use the extra, if there is any after squaring, for other projects. I've not had many problems with the cuts at the Jo-Ann's I go to, they at least make an effort to make straight cuts and always cut a bit more than requested; but at Hancock's I've had the most awful cuts and they just go merrily along, cutting everything by "eye". I've asked the manager, who was cutting, to please make sure she cut the fabric straight, she said ok, and cut the most off-kilter piece I've ever gotten. I've even suggested (a few times) that they use a straight edge and they looked at me like I had 3 heads!

I absolutely would NOT put up with that.They have to cut pretty straight .At $10.00 a yard,I will get what I pay for.I don't expect more,but I want what I pay for.

OH NO not me I don't buy fat quarters just because they are pretty not me ..................ha ha......... a friend calls me the fat quarter queen....................................lol

I do alot of applique and do use them up.....................

i carry a pocket sized tape measure with me wherever i go and use it to measure my cuts right at the cutting table. i dont shop joanns very often at all because it is farther than i like but once the clerk had to recut 3 pieces of fabric because she didnt make sure it was straight and what i asked for. i stood at the counter and measured it showing her where her error was in making sure both ends were even before cutting but she wouldnt listen so recut she did.

i no longer wait until i get home to check my fabric cuts. i learned my lesson well to measure at the cutting table. my lqs will cut about 11 inches of fabric when i buy quarter cuts and about 6 inches of fabric when i buy an eighth of a yard cut (for my postage stamp quilts). i love them and they may give me an inch or so more if it is a clearance fabric.

ladies get you a small purse size tape measure to take with you when buying fabric. it is a wonderful tool to have.:)

I always re-measure the piece before I put it in my basket. If it isn't the right size, I ask them to re-cut it.

I have only been to the JoAnn's (off Hwy 70) once and I noticed there was a problem with the employees. A lot of tension.

Well I like your idea about the tape measure Havplenty. One of my peeves about cutting out anything I'm working with it the material not being square. It really buggs me. So your idea about checking right at the cutting table is a great idea.

I agree. Unless its so peculiar I can't IMAGINE ever using it again, I get 1/2 yd. Then there's some left over in case I screw up, or at least for a scrap quilt, or another project.

I used to stand there while they cut it and if the beginning edge wasn't right, I'd ask her to straighten it up so I'll get a full quarter yard. I don't see why I should have to pay double to get the cut I want. Nowadays I get most of my fabric online from Connecting Threads and they've been good.

I usually always buy more than I need. The only time I buy 1/4 yd. is if I'm just gonna make yo-yo's.

Me, too, tho the "cutters" around here are usually pretty good about making sure you get the full width.

I always buy several yards at a time, never buy small pieces unless its a remanent, then I just use it for scrappy quilts, or to go with something to match some I already have. Out of all the fabrics I have I don't think I have gotten but a few bad cuts.

It seems to me that in the shops I go to, both the chain stores and the LQS, the clerks are trying to do a conscientious job. I just expect some shrinkage and buy a little more than I need. Some patterns will state that they are allowing for shrinkage and the yardage given is generous, so that's another consideration to look for.

This thread reminded me of something we were taught in sewing class in the dark ages. When you bought new fabric, you not only washed it (which at that time might have still included wringers in some people's homes, followed by flapping on a clothes line), but when it was almost dry there was one more step: You would get a helper and the two of you would pull the corners to get the weave back into proper alignment. Apparently, way back when, that was just the norm, but store clerks who didn't cut carefully along the grain could expect to lose business.

I buy most of my fabric at 2 places that are VERY careful. I would have no qualms about insisting on getting what I am paying for, but that's me. At the price of fabrics, one should get what one is paying for. That said, I always buy a bit extra because I know I make errors too.

Right!!!!!!!!!

In what other store would any of you take less than you pay for?? Gallon of milk, gas.....head of lettuce, sweater...hmmmmmmmm...why oh why would you allow it at the fabric store?

Just keep reminding yourself.."I AM THE CUSTOMER" "I AM THE REASON YOU ARE HERE AND HAVE A JOB"

Why not watch when they cut the fabric and suggest they straighten it before cutting your piece / I have had to do that and it didn't cause a problem for the cutter , and I was happy too .