My mother was a wonderful seamstress, she always taught me to tear fabric. I have often been distressed when I asked for a half yard of fabric got it home and really had barely a quarter yard of usable fabric because the grain was so off.

I rip for large pieces but not as a general rule. I've tried the whole 'pull a thread' thing and quilting cotton is just too tightly woven for that to work for me. I usually just line up the selveges and wiggle until it's straight and then cut whatever the necessary chunk off the end to get it straight. Not always really true but usually close enough for me.

You sure could! I've ripped both across the selvedge grain and along it, and both ways are perfectly safe and don't distort the fabric. There's a bit of stretching and fraying right next to the ripped area for about a half-inch, but the rest of the fabric is unharmed. You do want to avoid ripping narrow strips (like less than 2" ), because they could just tear off. Anything else is fine, though. I'll rip a bit wider than the size I need for long strips, then just trim off the frayed part.

Fabric rips much easier than you'd think. Once you get it started (a little snip with the scissors is enough), it rips almost as easily as paper. You may still need to straighten the grain, but it has nothing to do with being distorted from ripping; it was distorted to begin with, which is *why* you rip--so you can *find* the grain and straighten it. Once you get your grainline, just tug the fabric along the bias to line it up properly (you might need some practice to get the hang of it). Once the fabric is squared up, it'll be much easier to work with and you'll have an easier time getting accurate cuts.

There are so many finishes on our fabrics that sometimes they tear in a semi circle. I put my ruler on my fabric, cut and call it good. I do like to have my fabric given extra body with starch or sizing though

For big pieces on the backing I rip, both directions it is so much easier than trying to cut the fabric :) I thought everyone did it that way.

I also rip larger pieces. e first time someone ripped a large piece , I just cringed. Now I'm used to it. You can straighten smaller piece just by lining up the selvages til the fabric hangs without folds.

Thanks so much for this thread! I'm learning (or in this case relearning) so many things here. :)

I am with you. Ripped fabric drives me bonkers; distorting and separating. I still have to clean up the ends to cut.

Thanks for the reminder! I had completely forgotten this...since I have been out of home ec for many years. lol

Fabric will only tear on the grain, whether vertical or horizontal.