you will like having the larger mat -

the really small ones are nice for when squaring up the components of a block, though

I did cut 8 thicknesses recently for the outer border on "Danbury", BUT the blade was brand new. This is not something I do often, but I wanted a seamless border. I had bought 5 yds of that color and it seems to have come out just fine. (We will see if I am right somtime in the future when I go to attach it to the quilt top).

me too. but only lengthwise.

One of my favorite shops tears the fabric when I buy it. Can I ask for her to cut it without hurting her feelings?

that's called customer service and she ought to do what the customer asks within reason. that's certainly a valid request.

Oh, Boston <shaking head> first rule of retail sales... the customer is always right... sorry if I sound snarky, but........ I am paying for the material
if I want it cut, I want it cut. I really don't care if her feelings get hurt.
I used to make Teddy Bears.. they wanted to tear the fabric. It stretches the next 1" so I put my foot down politely but firmly.. that renders 2" of my 36" unusable and I was paying $20 to $35 per yard. Then they brought out scissors to chop through the nap and all which also "wasted" about an inch of fabric on each end. I then offered to show them how it should be cut so ALL of my purchase was usable. They were a tad miffed at first but when I showed them the difference they understood.. it was that or they could "give" me the extra fabric to make up for rending the edges unusable.. I didn't care which...........or Lose a $60 sale and future business. don't ever be concerned about making a perfectly reasonable request.

I tried tearing the length of the fabric once....never again. It did not tear in a straight line and made a huge mess and my fabric as ruined for what I bought it for. :oops:

:oops: Another one who tears here :oops:

I don't hesitate to tear long strips; I like border fabric, for example, and it doesn't leave one room for a whole lot of error. If the fabric is good quality and tightly woven (and I'm not tearing like a banshee :wink: ) I haven't had any problems. I did that on the quilt we use upstairs; it gets washed a couple of times a week, and no problems at all. It was a Moda border print on my Pine Creek Crossing quilt: http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/16968.page I also tore the strips on the Poinsettia Quilt top: http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/15262.page

I have some fabric I bought when I first started quilting that is thin, and feels 'stretchy' to me - I wouldn't even attempt tearing it. Good fabric shouldn't be a problem, tho. JMHO :D

Roben -nice quilts

I store the strips for the king-size quilt I made. Made my life a lot easier!!