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-   -   Grain of fabric vs pattern on fabric! (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/grain-fabric-vs-pattern-fabric-t294414.html)

marjben 01-30-2018 06:01 AM

I really appreciate everyone’s help with this, thank you.

Chris G 01-30-2018 06:13 AM

Calico fabrics (quilting cottons) are ‘printed’. Just like a rubber stamp. Many times the actual cloth is pulled unevenly in the printing process. The only was you can get a true straight of grain on the fabric design is to find a woven print. The better quality fabrics are much closer to lining up prints

SusieQOH 01-30-2018 06:29 AM

I see what you're talking about. What are you doing with this fabric? If you cut it small enough I don't think you'd have any problems with it.

KnitnutBZ 01-30-2018 07:14 AM


Originally Posted by NJ Quilter (Post 7992826)
I think the only way you are going to be able to tell if it's mis-printed is to tear an edge. That will give you true straight of grain and let you know if you or the printing are off. Just my thoughts.

I found that mostly when working with plaids and gingham. Never seems to straight across the same plaid line. Even when I straighten it with the salvages.

romanojg 01-30-2018 08:13 AM

Leah Day has a great tutorial on you tube for getting your fabric straight. Then you'll know if its the print or the fabric.

klswift 01-30-2018 08:40 AM

Today's fabric is not made as it was 'back in the day'. Almost every shift at work, I will have a fabric that I have to cut straight, but the pattern is off. I usually add a bit (and then write the couple inches off as damaged) so the customer has the option of cutting with the pattern or the grain. Personally, if the pattern is close, I don't worry about the grain and if it is really off, then I will purposely cut weird (like a bias cut).

Peckish 01-30-2018 11:46 AM


Originally Posted by SusieQOH (Post 7993577)
I see what you're talking about. What are you doing with this fabric? If you cut it small enough I don't think you'd have any problems with it.

I agree. :thumbup:

marjben 01-31-2018 10:35 PM

I am piecing a back to make a double sided quilt and still figuring out the design. Once I realized the problem, I was waiting to decide once I figured out if/how to use this fabric.


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