that's how i cut my thumb! ripped strips for borders and then tried to trim the messy edge off. i hate the strings i get so would only do it if necessary.

I trim what little bit of fraying I have with the scissors. I tried rotary cutter doesn't work so well.

I have torn fabric and found that the cheaper the fabric, the more ravelling mess I end up with. Good quality fabric is not so much a problem - allthough it still requires cutting.

I still never cut and you can see my borders are fine.

OMGosh! I love the hot pink flowered one. Great job.

Was amazed at some of the northern VA quilt shops ALL seemed to tear purchases. Jinny Beyers store does!

I met a woman (long time quilter) who says she always has her shop rip the fabric, feeling that it assures an accurate "on the grain" cut. Never tried it, my quilt shop uses a cutting mat and rotary cutter. So far, so good. JoAnns used to use good scissors; however, at least where I live, the good scissors they were using kept "disappearing" permenently, hence the change.

At a large fabric store in CA, all of the yardage I ordered was torn instead of cut, as most do.

Recently I read that lab tests on torn fabric showed that damage was done which weakened the fibers up to an inch in each direction from the tear.

I don't tear often, but when I do from now on, I'm going to trim off at least an inch on either side of the tear.

I haven't seen a store rip fabric in years. I do rip if I need a lengthwise strip to be long enough.