I tear if I have lots of fabric to divide. I hate to wash more than 2 1/2 yd pieces because it tends to wind up so badly in the dryer. I usually make about a 1/2" cut in the fold and tear from there to the edge of the selvage then clip.

Tearing cotton gives you a good straight of grain in spite of the furry edge, some fabrics are not put on the blocks straight to begin with and also some designs are not printed following the straight of grain, so tearing helps to see through all this. Polyesters do not tear well and in some cases do not tear at all.

Gal

Gal, got that right. Polyester is it's very own beast! LOL

I have never tried tearing fabric, but I can see how it would work better than cutting on the wide backing fabric.

You can tear as far as your arms reach, place your knee on the rip and finish tearing, without having to reposition your hands. Is fun.

Scares the living dickens out of the dogs and cats!! THAT alone makes it fun.

The straight Grain of the fabric is called the WARP, it runs up and down - the same direction as the selvedge (sides). If you were to pull (stretch) the straight grain of the fabric, you will see that it won't give. Now, if you were to pull on the fabric sideways it will stretch. This is called the WEFT of the fabric. left to right-WEFT. Have you ever noticed that when you are sewing cut squares of fabric that some sides will stretch and some won't? Thats because you are sewing the sides that have been cut on the weft side. side to side, left to right along the width of the fabric not the length. Hope this helps. I learned this in a textile class when I was in high school. Anne

This is why alot of teachers recommend using the length of the fabric for borders, doesnt stretch as much.

I tear length wise all the time does not hurt the fabric and you donot need to cut after you do it. I tear all my borders long strips, and backing. Have for 27 years, without one distortion.

Well, there you go!!! I have only torn it crosswise.