I would insist or would refuse to buy it , they will change their minds , :roll:

I dont want my fabric torn its stretches and frays...all the fabric stores here go over an inch on both sides of the cut so we do get a true "useable" measurement

When you tear the fabric it tears along the grain of the fabric and that is how you want all your pieces cut...with the grain.

The fabric is going to be washed when you get it home, so any distortions come out in the wash. I prefer ripped due to the straight of grain. One reason, I heard years ago was ripping caused a lot of dust and that was not good for those that worked in the cutting area. I have also seen fabrics (very few athat were 3,4 or more off center. Alot of places allowed up to an extra inch if they were tearing, but it cuts into there costs at the end of the year - it does add up.

My local fabric store ripped the edge stating it was on the straight of the grain and you get a more accurate 1 yard and the 1/4 inch cut off of the brused edge - but you will find that your fabric is more likely to be much straighter in the long run when you start to cut stripes etc.

I want my fabric cut. it looks to much like rags for me. i have not had that problem where they wanted to tear it.

When I purchased fabric at Paducah from Eleanor Burns tent
in the park, they tore the quilting fabrics. I tear for quilt linings
then press the edges. Works great

All of the quilt stores around here use a rotary cutter and I personally like that. We were visiting Durango, CO and I visited the local quilt store and I was shocked when they ripped away at the fabric I bought. They said it is a straighter cut this way as far as the grain was concerned. Well, give me crooked grain then!!!

I hate the sound of ripping fabric *shudder*. I'd rather than cut, if only so I could avoid hearing that!

Tearing will keep the fabric on the straight of grain. I would prefer it if my fabric stores tore the fabric but they don't. It is so frustrating trying to square up the fabric and end up losing a few inches because it was cut off kilter.

If you are using 100% cotton, it will seem like it is out of square after washing no matter if it is cut or torn. If, it is perfectly on the grain, you can "square it up" by stretching opposite corners. If it is not perfectly on grain, no amount of stretching will help.

This may end up being the fourth great insolvable controversy. I prefer my fabric torn as it is much truer to length and on the straight grain. But certainly we can agree to disagree.

(The other three controversies? Windows vs Mac. Nikon vs Canon and mayonnaise vs miracle whip!)

SO TRUE! :D

L O L :-D

I had listed this comment a few weeks back. I placed several bolts on the counter to be cut in a quilting store in Montgomery, AL (I was visiting). The lady measured one of them & started to tear it. I asked if she could please cut it instead and if she had to tear it, please give me an extra inch or two, because the tearing distorts the fabric edges & you lose that fabric edge when using it.

Well, she stated that she always tore the fabric and if I wanted it cut, they charged $1.00 a bolt to cut the fabric. Some of the fabric was on sale, I had 11 bolts on the table, so that would cost me $11.00 to have them cut it. I told her I would not pay $11 to have it cut. She said, "well, then I guess you don't get our sale fabric" and I said to her that was perfectly fine with me, and started to walk out.

She yelled after me that I had to pay for the fabric from the bolt she "started" to tear. I turned around, gave her a big smile, waved good-bye, and walked out the door. They will never see me in there again and I go to Montgomery often to visit my daughter & her family.

neonparrot - I will be very surprised if this LQS is still in business when you are back in town with someone like that working for them (or maybe it was the owner...even worse). Glad you stuck to your guns. :thumbup:

I have never been to a Shop that does tear the fabric, but I would think it would be fine to ask them to cut it. I would! I don't like the raggy edges either.

Neonparrot I would never enter their doors again either! That was uncalled for to be so rude. I have heard of tearing fabric, but sure not charging you extra to cut it!

I can understand it. She's going to have to go back and tear that fabric again anyway, costing her time and some measure of fabric, or else the next customer will get a wonky piece.

I know many of you don't believe that, but it sounds like the store's policy falls on the "tear it" side of the debate.

No call for her to be rude to you, but I understand the policy. I wouldn't want to be the next person to get fabric from that bolt if she had cut it for you and left it at that.

You did just what I would do, NO STORE can stay in business very long when they abuse their patrons. The issue cut/tear aside, the real issue was that they tried to "jack up the price" just to get you to be compliant. Good for YOU! :D

As I said, there was probably a very good reason for her to charge that. I highly doubt she was "jacking up the price." If you think the people here are passionate about their preferences, imagine how a LQS owner would feel! If they believe, as I do, that tearing is the right way then having a customer want to do something else that could have a negative affect on all the other patrons after her, is well within her rights to impose a fee for that.

When I began in retail the philosophies were: "The customer is always right" and "Give the customer what he wants." I have never been to a 'Jackie the Ripper' shop but I have had some salespersons cut some pretty strange angles. I usually get an 1/8 yard extra, just in case.

I think a 'Ripper' shop should accommodate you without charge if you prefer a cut edge. If tearing is a really hard core policy they could cut from the other end. The end of the bolt IS already cut, I think. It's not that hard to rewrap with plenty of counter space. Shops need courteous staff and satisfied customers to stay in business.

Just tell them you prefer it cut. People are usually quite helpful if you ask nicely!

Think of it this way, if the fabric has been ripped, then you want it cut, take a look at the ripped edge. If the ripped edge is fairly straight, then no problem. If the ripped edge is off by to many inches, then you are getting a lot of free fabric, or be charged for it. Then there can be some hard feelings on one side of the table or the other.
Also, if the policy is not posted somewhere, it should be.

Ripping the fabric means it will REALLY be on the straight of the grain but it doesn't LOOK so good.

Oh! I remember that too. I remember going to the store with my Mom and seeing it. It thought that machine was so clever.

OMG!!!!! I remember that little machine also!! I guess once we all started using rotary cutters, this little piece of nostalgia went the way of "the good old days"!

I had forgotton about that little machine...remembered the tearing but now I remember that little cut the machine made. Another memory of my mom - lovely.

If you go back to Home EC 101; tearing the fabric will establish a straight grain. How many of you lay the salvages together on cut fabric and see the ends off by considerable amount? Pre-washing will show this distortion more clearly. This is true in batiks especially, that have been cut. You still lose fabric when you true it with a ruler. If the fabric is woven well, the main body of fabric will stay strong. Your fabric will lay flatter and sew easier and be a prettier quilt unit in the long run.

One more thought, you should be trimming your edges anyway. So all those raggedy edges become straight and clean...I love rotary cutters.

After reading some of the comments again...those of you finding you lose significant amounts of fabric when you straighten, think about how many other cuts were made before yours from that same bolt of fabric. Look at the ends of fabric bolts someday; you will see 8-12 inches of crooked fabric. If the edges were ripped or grain straightened when the bolt arrived in the store, we wouldn't see so much waste. Straight grain is present in every yard of fabric; the store should make it correct when they sell the first fabric off the bolt. Think about it...

I just came from Hobby Lobby, I asked the lady the cut my fabric if she done any tearing there. She said yes they do and it's mainly Satin, they'll do it for any other fabric but only if asked. But she said herself that it does distort the frabric even if it is straight. But they have to do what the customer asks! :|

When I buy jelly rolls or layer cake it always is cut with a rotary cutter! Why is that different. I am still trying to learn about all this

I've recently heard several guild members reporting jelly rolls and bali strips are way off grain and are returning them.

I feel like you are paying for it so ask. To me, ripping stretches the material.

[quote=Jo Mama]I remember it too, it was brown mounted on the counter and the person pulled it thru then when the numbers on the dial were right, it nicked the selvedge and the person TORE the fabric. Thing about tearing is that it gives you the appropriate yardage on the straight grain, and if you are washing and pre shrinking your fabric any way the distortion from the tearing will go away when washed and dried, and pressed. Yes there are a few strings, and if the fabric is not on the straight grain it can be pulled on the opposing diagonal to make it straight.
I think maybe a lot of the basics for fabric and sewing have been lost over the years as I understand many schools no longer have home ec classes which is where many gals were introduced to sewing. I feel more blessed every day to have come from a family of home sewers, 2 grandmas, 3 aunts, and mom.


:D

[quote=patdesign]Exactly!!!!

My votes are for ripping, Windows, Canon, and miracle whip! LOL!

Do like I would do, tell them if they charge a few more cents a yard they could afford scissors. :mrgreen:

ditto, way to go, neonparrot!

Talk about dating ourselves - do you remember at fabric stores when salesperson came to end of bolt and there were a few inches remaining, they just threw it in for free! No fat quarters then.[quote=patdesign]