I just put together a quilt my mother started years ago -- ironically from an Eleanor Burns book. Mom had already torn the strips for a log cabin quilt. I will NEVER tear fabric again!!! #1 reason -- I don't believe it saves you ANY time. It's just as fast to use the rulers and rotary cutters.

#2 reason -- an INCREDIBLE amount of threads are the result!!! I battled those babies all the way thru and now that it's on the quilting machine, I'm STILL pulling threads.

Nope -- I don't recommend it...

I have always been afraid to tear my borders, especially border prints even though I buy quality quilting fabric. I've seen many times that the designs aren't always printed straight on the fabric, so I wondering what kind of fabric you usually use? I could save a lot of time if I could tear my borders. Does it make a difference if you are doing mitered border corners? Do you get good mitered corners with torn fabric?

i'm a member of the ripit club.

i very often tear my fabric in half lengthwise. it helps me see the straight of grain and it's easier to fold for cross-cuts without elbows. it also gives me a good idea of how the fabric will behave and hold up over time.

like others have mentioned they do, i also tear across when i want a quick hunk off the end of a long stretch of fabric.
i'll tear a rough-estimate lengthwise for borders and then trim to size.

because it does often result in fringey ruffles at the end that have to be trimmed back, if i'm not sure i can afford to waste even a half-inch, i take the time to measure and cut.

i also find that trying to tear a fabric is a more reliable test of whether or not it contains polyester. as others have pointed out, poly is either difficult to tear or won't tear at all. i can't always tell the difference from a burn test.

I used to watch my mother rip, now I know why she did it. I am definitely going to try this for myself. Thanks for the tip... Penni

Some quilt stores will rip their yard goods... many will cut.

As much as I don't like those dangling threads, and stretched edges, I have to say I really don't like uneven cuts since they usually short you on true fabric size. If there is any distortion from manufacturing and being on the bolt, at least I can start with the straight ripped edge; and then I wash all my cottons, damp dry and iron before using.

If there are too many dangling threads, I believe that's a sign of a cheaper quality weave. Before washing I cut several 1/4 inch cuts on that "rip" (or cut) edge and that prevents long tangling threads in the washer.

Good luck.

I always tear backing to be sure I have a straight edge to start with.
I learned to quilt from my Grandma when you traced cardboard templates with a pencil, cut each patch with scissors and hand sewed each patch. She always tore her fabric before starting to trace so her patches would be even, she used the torn edge as her guide for tracing. I have several for her quilts that are 70-80 yrs. old. I'm still using them and the torn edge doesn't seem to have effected the endurance of the quilt at all.

I, too, tear my larger pieces, like backing, or the original amount called for in a pattern. Works much better for me than cutting.

I read it and read it and have even seen others doing it....still scared...

It does produce the straight but some fabrics are so off that you loose a lot of fabrics - Harriet Hargrave recommends tearing - good luck

I was buying some fabric one time and the little old lady was ripping it off the bolts. I was looking at my wife like "what the heck?" so I told the lady "you know they invented scissors for a reason".

Then she explained everything that you guys said, but I told her that I didnt care if I wanted to rip the fabric off the bolt I would have done it in the isle and she would be out of a job!

Billy