I have one quilt shop here in Denver that rips, and they go to great lenghts and tell you why they do it that way. They also make a speial point in noticing how the fabric is printed on and will make allowences for anything not printed correctly and even the freyed edges. I think that makes a big difference when shopping for fabric, why they do things differently and explain why.

It is my belief that "ripping" the fabric keeps the "rip" on the straight of grain. I, personally, would rather have it cut. However, it must be a time thing (very quick) and no scissors or rotary cutters needed. I am interested in the other comments regarding this.

I use to let the fabric store rip my fabric. I found that when the fabric is ripped I was cutting a lot more off to square up the fabric. I now ask them to cut my fabric instead. I do not like the rip method myself.

I would like to have my fabric torn rather than cut because you at least get what you pay for. Sometimes the clerk cuts so crooked that I lose several inches on one side of the fabric. I usually just press the "ragged" edge and cut 1/4" off and that takes care of the strings from tearing. Hope this helps. Cheers and keep on quilting!

Most places I go to use a rotary cutter to cut the fabric. However, while in Mississippi in the fall, I did encounter a quilt shop that ripped rather than cut. I was not a fan. Little strings of fabric were all over the "ripping" table, and their were string attached to every bolt of fabric all over the store.

It is nice to know the purpose of doing it, but I think I still prefer having them cut.

I find even if you rip the fabric, down the line you have to true it up again after cutting your strips off of it...now with backing I don't know except I always true up one side so to get it straight with my quilt top. When it is ripped I seem to have this wavy thing going on and don't like it!

I do remember when making garments it is a much bigger piece of fabric to deal with and you do need to know where the exact straight of grain is or your garment will come out twisted when washed after sewing it together. Even so I like a nice even cut, I like to watch very closely to see if it lines up before they cut, if not you can ask them to true it...some will some won't, just happens to be if they want my business or not. Some quilters I understand don't have but one quilt shop around and have to travel miles to get to the nearest one in the first place so must stick with what they do at that shop.

I bought 108" wide batik backing today and my LQS tore it, although they usually cut everything else. When I took a class from Harriet Hargrave she said she prefers tearing it because you get straight of grain. The problem is that fabric is rarely ever straight on the bolt, so it appears crooked when torn. I always allow extra when a shop tears it because it can be short when you go to work with it.

I definitely prefer to have mine cut. The tearing will distort the fabric. I don't go by how it has been cut when I begin to do my rotary cutting for a project, anyway. I always fold my fabric in half, putting selvedges together and letting the fabric hang down. I shift the selvedges back and forth slightly until the hanging fold is completely flat (no ripples at all). Then I lay the fabric down, with the fold at the bottom, and using the fold line as my guide for the bottom edge of my plexiglass rule, I cut a new edge, from the fold up to the selvedges. This is how I was shown when I first started quilting. Hope it makes sense.

30 years ago when I sold fabric we always tore it. You lose alot less fabric tearing than cutting.

Years ago when one had to take home ec, we had to pull a string the width of the fabric to find the strait of the grain. After cutting on that line, we had to stretch the fabric so the selvages would line up before we could place the pattern pieces.

Now days if your fabric is ripped then washted when you get it home it's already to go. And as a bonus, when you cut your strips on the grain, it won't have all those unraveled threads when you're working on your project.

Love it when it's ripped!

Just reading some of the other quilters' contributions, I have noticed too that my LQS's do tear the wide fabric for backing. I have never asked for it to be cut, thinking there's probably a reason why they tear it, and I've never had a problem with my wide backing as a result.

Tearing fabric is not commonly done now days since the fabric making/weaving process has become much more refined and quality fabrics usually have a pretty straight grain.
You only tear 100% cotton, some silks and some velvets as it will give you the true grain of the fabric. That makes it easier to square up your yardage for anything you are making. A distorted grain can ruin all your hard work in making the perfect item be it a quilt, bag, dress or potholder. If you are buying fabric of questionable quality, ask the clerk to rip it--if it doesn't tear, it isn't 100% cotton that means you may not be able to straighten the grain if it's crooked. If you really love it (the fabric), you may need to change your plans for it.

I have seen fabric both cut and torn. Tearing is suppose to give it a true straight cut. The local quilt shops around here are very precise when they cut using a ruler with lip to get a straight cut. One store even had a slit in their cutting table to use a guide. I prefer a cut edge because when I wash and its already ragged it tends to get more so

I have found that when they tear the fabric, you lose a couple of inches from the horizontal threads "pulling" as they rip. I always ask them to cut and have never had a sales rep refuse. Sometimes you lose a couple of inches as the fabric isn't cut "on grain", so either way I always buy extra. :)

Usually when the cut the don't you need a table with the straight cutting whatever on it - if the rip the fabric - maybe they are not set up to cut it.

Some LQS rip instead of cut. I was told that it will be sure to
be on the straight of the grain. I don't like the rips either but that
is the reasoning for ripping.

When I took home economics in high school we were taught that tearing gives a true grain to the fabric edge. Don't know if that's actually true or not. But, I have always done it that way. I just trim off the raveled edges.I only do this on cotton or cotton blends.
Frankie

I like mt torn becuse it tear with grain

Most fabrics tend to twist when being rolled onto the bolts at the manufacturer, and can be off by as much as 4-6 inches at the beginning of a brand new bolt. Many untrained staff at some of the fabric stores don't know of this, and just cut without evening up the fabric first. Ripping of wovens is actually more accurate. I was trained to only cut true woven plaids such as ginghams, and then a single layer at a time. Does it matter? If you are putting on a pair of pants (chinos) that have not been cut on a true straight grain, they will pull in the seat with every step you take. On a quilt of small pieces it may not be as important.

I have had the same problem (Joann's) & would lose inches because of uneven measurements. I did email the company and also returned the fabric to Joann's & asked for the right yardage. It is frustrating & inconvenient to say the least. I know the employees are instructed to cut the exact amount and not give an extra inch. What could be a solution to this problem ?
I have never had my fabric ripped, always cut with a rotary cutter.

All the quilt stores I go to cut the fabric. I wouldn't like them tearing the fabric either!!! :D

That was the only way cotton fabric used to be done. Today it means that the cotton fabric is of a good quality. Cheaper cottons can't be torn. It means you have the straight of grain.

OMG!!!! I live in Texas also and the store I go to does the same thing. I do not like it as I am a neat freak. Also, I measured and on one of the fabrics I lost nearly a quarter of an inch.
Went to the same store a few days later and a new lady cut it. I ask her why the others tore it and she said they thought it was faster.
I like it cut.

I agree with you. I don't like the messy edge it leaves. With what fabric costs if for no other reason you have the right to request it be cut if that is what you want. When it is torn it seems to keep on raveling sometimes and you loose some fabric. I don't think I have seen anyone tear fabric since I was a little girl which is over 50 yes ago.

You know, I LOVE that this group is SO passionate about quilting that there's a major debate on whether cotton should be torn or cut! What a great place to be! :)

I've had some shops rip the fabric because it's right along the cross-grain. Personally, I don't like it either because I think it stretches the edge, but I do believe it is actually more accurate.

I agree. For my OBW quilts, I tear the repeats so the ends are exactly the same.

I took a class at Eleanor Burns fabric store in California. I bought some fabrics from her and they tore all their fabrics...that was a long time ago but assume they still tear.

Although canuckninepatch prefers hers cut, her method of straightening the grain is right and should be done whether you cut or tear. if it's torn, you straighten without cutting (except to trim to clean the edge) and if it's torn you straighten and then you have to trim to straighten, and you lose inches.

I think a lot of people don't straighten their fabrics and in that case you would probably prefer cutting.

By all means if you want to have your fabric cut ask the clerk to cut it. You're paying for the fabric, so pretend you're at Burger King and "Have it your way"! :P :P :P

I also agree with JulieR. Since I wash and iron all the fabric anyway the torn ends don't bother me. My friend owned a quilt shop and always tore her fabric...the yardage was then on grain. Although it might look odd and sort of "caddydwompers" you will get the full yardage.
Once washed, it straightens.

The large fabric store I consider my second home cuts most of their yardage with the exception of backing and certain bridal fabric. If you check the bolts you will see where the manufacturer recommends one tearing on certain fabric.

Once again, there are no "right" way, only a "preferred" way.


:thumbup:

In my first quilting class I was taught to tear the fabric to get the fabric on the grain. I did it for class but not after that. I use my rulers to get a straight edge.

Isn't that the truth!!!!

I rip all my fabric so that I get a straight grain. I don't think it harms the fabric at all. A bit of steam ironing puts the frazzled edges back in shape, and that 1/16th or so of fabric is part of the seam anyway.

I find cut fabric is often off the grain and uneven. I wish my LQS would rip, but I understand the clean cut looks nicer, but it is not the best way to make sure the fabric is on grain.

When I rip, sometimes I can get up to a 3" difference from one edge to the other...that is a huge waste from cutting.

Diane

We were taught in Home Ec (many years ago), that tearing it tears on the grain and you can see if the grain is straight or not. I still like mine cut.

I really prefer my fabric to be torn. Do I lose a half inch, maybe. But, when is is cut, I have lost as much as a 9 inches. Now, that is a lot. If I am in a shop that insists on cutting, I always buy an extra quarter of a yard. Do they allow for their lousy cutting? Never.

That's for sure

I remember making some cotton table napkins years ago, before I really got into quilting, and I tore the fabric to make the squares, thinking I would get a really even square since it would be totally on grain. Those napkins have been a pain ever since, in trying to iron them and fold them into quarters. They never seem to want to fold into a square properly. I guess that's what scared me off of tearing. But, maybe that fabric was just off grain - is that a possibility? I could never quite figure it out......

I can remember a time when fabric was always torn but back then it was mostly natural fibers. The draper had a gadget that measured the fabric as the edge was drawn through then a little click which put a small cut in the folded edge and then it was torn.
I'm 61 years young but can remember when rayon and dacron came into the shops. Big excitement. The fabric store where my mother mainly shopped for fabric is still a going concern all these years later. I bought fabric to sew for my eldest when she was small from the same shop. These days they even stock a very good collection of quilt fabrics but the store is still the same size as when I was small. Long & narrow. I have even taken my best friend who was born in Scotland to this shop.
Unfortunately I don't get there very often as it is across the other side of the city which is about an hours drive. A friend from school got her first job there and still works there a few days a week. She did marry and raise a family but has always kept with them. It is a family owned business so maybe this is why it has survived so long. Customer Service.

I ALWAYS stop anyone from tearing my fabric it cause blistering to the ends of your fabric which can weaken you fabric for up to 3-4inches in, not good for your quilts , usually if you just say (nicely) please cut my fabric dont tear they are happy to do so . Cathy

my local store rips and although I have asked very nisely to please cut it ,refused . it means you loose 1/4 inh each end of your fabric!