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Thanks for asking the question. I was in the same situation. Have been putting off "cutting" the back so now I'll "tear." Thanks to all that answered. I just love this board. Such knowledgeable people and always willing to share. Thank you all.
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Originally Posted by annesthreads
Can I have your comments on what a friend has said to me today? I was telling her how pleased I was with the advice I received here about tearing fabric, as it solved my problem so easily - and she said she was told not to tear because it warps the fabric and because (I think) the pattern is often not directly lined up with the grain of the fabric, so it won't tear exactly along the line of the pattern (but surely that would affect cutting too, as it would mean the pattern wasn't straight on the fabric? I don't really see what she means there).
Fans of cutting prefer not to have to worry about the fabric ends "warping", which can happen with an inexperienced ripper or lower quality fabric. Fans of ripping prefer accuracy, and are prepared to accept having to trim a few strings sometimes. Ensuring the print is straight is a separate process, but you'll know for sure if it's wonky as soon as you or the sales person rips it. |
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Measure off about 80 inches along the selvedge and snip it and tear it. Yes you'll get strings and fraying but it will be straight and on grain. Do the same for the other direction and give yourself about 6 inches extra.
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Originally Posted by AlienQuilter
I went to Paducah once for the quilt show. Shopped at the Quilt in a Day tent. They tore the fabric and gave a little extra to make up for it. Would be a good workout if you had to tear fabric all day.
When I was a kid, not only did we tear fabric, we also used razor blades instead of seam rippers. Never owned a seam ripper until I was an adult. |
Originally Posted by JulieR
Originally Posted by annesthreads
Can I have your comments on what a friend has said to me today? I was telling her how pleased I was with the advice I received here about tearing fabric, as it solved my problem so easily - and she said she was told not to tear because it warps the fabric and because (I think) the pattern is often not directly lined up with the grain of the fabric, so it won't tear exactly along the line of the pattern (but surely that would affect cutting too, as it would mean the pattern wasn't straight on the fabric? I don't really see what she means there).
Fans of cutting prefer not to have to worry about the fabric ends "warping", which can happen with an inexperienced ripper or lower quality fabric. Fans of ripping prefer accuracy, and are prepared to accept having to trim a few strings sometimes. Ensuring the print is straight is a separate process, but you'll know for sure if it's wonky as soon as you or the sales person rips it. |
Could someone please explain the "thread-pulling" method?
I have never seen that done, but have only been quilting a few years. I will try tearing the backing for my next quilts, but have a question--that will only work if the fabric you have is larger than what you ultimately need for the backing, right? If you have to do any piecing to make the backing large enough, would you still tear the edges? Looking forward to the answers. |
That makes my life easier. I hated working with large pieces of fabric. And although I am a proponent of tearing, I just never thought of it. Thanks.
A question, on that piece of fabric 80 X 108, does the tearing have to be from selvedge to selvedge or could you tear the other way. I would have used the 80" for my length and torn across for my width, making only one tear and saving fabric. Would that have been wrong? |
For Grambi
Thread pulling: pull one thread out the width of the fabric and then you use that line (space) for your cutting line. That insures you are cutting on grain. |
Originally Posted by galvestonangel
A question, on that piece of fabric 80 X 108, does the tearing have to be from selvedge to selvedge or could you tear the other way. I would have used the 80" for my length and torn across for my width, making only one tear and saving fabric. Would that have been wrong? |
Originally Posted by TonnieLoree
Thank goodness I'm not the only relic that believes in tearing. :-)
...and sometimes when I do the fact that the print of the fabric is subtly off-grain becomes apparent- |
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