I have torn through my border barrier!!! I took the 3 yards for one quilt border, made a little clip past the selvedge, and tore it off so cleanly! I did the same to the other selvedge, matched up the perfectly straight edges, tore it in half, then in half again.

They are just perfect! I will clip off the strings, starch and iron as suggested. Now I need more brown thread for the long sewing to do.

Thanks so much. :D

Thanks for all the information. I love boarders on my quilts, but like everyone else I hate cutting or tearing them.

Congratulations, pittsburgpam!! [img]http://www.pic4ever.com/images/greenstars.gif[/img]

Wow Pam!!!! I'm impressed! I have to make myself do it....its just that its sooo pretty....do you think it felt any pain when you tore it? :lol:

Me, too, Moonpi! It's the truest straight you can get AND (bonus for me) I don't have to try to get down on the floor or up again. I can't imagine that sliding your cutting mat wouldn't make the fabric shift, Pam. I get wavy centers if I don't rip them, to frequently. :wink:

I have a wood working metal square ruler I use, too! Love them tools and my husband bought it for me especially for my quilting. He got tired of having me say 'clean that thing' when I was using his. :lol:

Sharon

i like mine lengthwise also. i just bought myself a 36" ruler just for that purpose.now i fold on the straight grain as much as i need to and rotary cut. YEA! :thumbup: :thumbup:

I have read that ppl 'rip' before, to stay on grain...but doesn't this stretch the fabric?

posted while on page 1.
I have a question?
Can I just make a template with freezer paper and press to fabric and either rotary cut or with shears? I don't want my borders pieced. I want to cut down the selvedge edge, in fact I have some cut now and I don't think they are crooked, but maybe tomorrow I will unfold and look. I hope it doesn't smile at me. was parallel to selvedge, and was folded.

i think if you rip off the selvedge edge itself, you will have a straight edge.
how you then cut that second edge determines whether THAT edge is straight.

huh?

rip off the selvedge, measure in the amount you want. either rip or cut at that measure. if it smiles, then you cut it crooked. the selvedge is always straight. if it's crooked, you can always straighten it out by recutting or re-ripping on the edge that you originally cut. don't touch the selvedge edge.
if you only ripped it, it's always straight.

if you decide to rip that second edge, it may stretch a little. press it out.

i also have another idea i may try. I'm not ready to rip just yet.
I kept piece of door stripping, brand new, never used. it's got to be 6-7 feet long and I have a 48 architects ruler too, and squares etc. men's tools are cheaper than ours.
anyway, i don't see why this metal stripping wouldn't be like a super long straight edged ruler. gonna see how i do with freezer ppr first. That is, if my current way did not work. I think it did. (the usual folding)