I rip my fabric all the time. I loved that machine that they use to use to nip the fabric. Couldn't wait til I could run one but by the time I was old enough, they had pretty much disappeared. Still remember the nice lady who showed me how it worked.

I'm a strip and rip person myself unless they are being very generous in their cutting, I hate to get shorted by a few inches on uneven fabric when it's cut "straight".

I cringe every time I see someone getting ready to cut fabric free-hand. The best way to get a straight edge is to nip and rip. I still do this.

If you shop at the Quilt in a Day tent at Paducah, they rip it. But they give a little extra to make up for it.

I bought a bunch of fabric for a quilt once, I needed a lot of 1/4 yard cuts so I could make strips. Well, the "elbows" were so bad that my strips were only to the elbow!

I would rather have it ripped/torn than to have someone cut it who has not been properly trained to do so.

Yes, I'm of the older generation where they used the machine to measure and nip a cut then rip. I learned in Home Ec. it was the only way to get it cut on straight of the grain. You certainly got value for what you bought and the little that you lost on the edges was minimal. Today you can lose INCHES by the time you prewash then straighten the material.

even the grooves in the tables don't really help some that cut. but the ripping.. shaking head.. yes, agree. that is how we were taught too.. shaking head.. still don't know about that.. haven't experienced this lately.

Yes, I surely do...loved to watch the ladies at those old measuring machines and then rip the fabric. I still do on many an occasion.

My LQS still rips. On sale days it is c-r-a-z-y

I remember this. Thanks for posting.

In 01 or 02 I worked at a LQS and we ripped the fabric. The quilters had strong feelings about this either way, some loved it and some cringed as we ripped. There were many debates over this. We were not allowed to cut even if people asked. A few years later I worked at another LQS and we cut the fabric. Both of these stores have closed years ago.