Why did your teacher complicate the matter? She could have folded the fabric end to end, and again end to end and then rotary cut.

I rip just a little wider than the strip I need, iron well, fold, and then cut to size.

I have never had a problem cutting four pieces of fabric with a new rotary blade. I open up the fabric. Fold the length of the fabric and SEW the selvages together on one side. Fold again and sew the selvages together (same side) again. Press the fabric. You now have a piece of fabric that's straight on one side, folded and pressed. Start cutting on the side that's unsewn and work your way across the fabric. Unless you have something larger than a king-size (104 inch length), you only have about 3 yards of fabric (9 feet) folded into a four thickness piece of fabric that's less than 30 inches long.

So interesting to see this question. It is the same question that I Googled and that lead me to this board! The answers were very similar to the ones posted here. Have enjoyed reading this board almost daily since then. I had to cut 10 inch wide by 80 inch strips for the border from such pretty fabric. It really slowed the progress of the quilt because I was so afraid to do it. I ended up using the marks on my cutting mat for the 10 inches, which I don't normally do, and then just kept sliding the fabric up as I cut. I lined my 24 inch ruler up with the 10 inch markings. Turned out just fine.

To cut a long length like that I measure and move the ruler along as I go. I don't cut right to the end of the ruler so I then have the same line to line it up, then I remove the selvedge. The next strip I will have measured at the same time as I measured the first as well as any subsequent strips. May take longer but I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist.

Eleanor Burns started out ripping fabric and I remember doing it also many years ago. Not too long ago, I wanted some very long borders without cutting them or piecing them so I ripped them. My husband helped me and I went really slow and it was okay. They were perfectly straight and even, but they did have loose threads. I cut the loose threads and ironed the edges and am very happy with what I ended up with. I remember learning in 7th grade home economics how to rip to get an even edge.

I agree. Rip and press. You may want to use a little starch. It will be straight.

I agree -- rip it. I cut the cross-wise grain (selvage to selvage) and rip the lengthwise grain (parallel to the selvage). Ripping is the best way to be sure the long strips are truly on the straight of grain. I also rip the crosswise grain to get a good edge before I start my cutting. The fabric on the bolts is so far off grain I ...... no I should not get started. :(

Charlotte the selvege is the side that has the colors dots you can match to the fabric or the side where the streth doesn't stretch. Clear as mud, huh. I was wondering, my name is Charlotte also and my website is Charlotte-quilts.com
I couldn't help but notice your name.