When cutting your fabric for a new project, do you cut it right side up or wrong side up? Does it really matter? Right now I'm ironing some fabric I got a couple months ago and I just noticed how uneven it was cut off the bolt! How hard can it be to cut fabric with that groove they have in the table which keeps the sissors going straight? Now I need to find out if I have enough to do my next top. Very frustrating.

Kris

did you wash your fabric first? it goes bak to its "natural" shape after being washed and dried. very frequently the ends won't line up "nicely" after a fabric has been washed.

sometimes the fabric is pulled crooked when it's wound on the bolt.

i've learned to check for grain lines before buying fabric. if it's printed off-grain, one has to live with it.

when they cut the fabric, they are (supposed to be) cutting it perpendicularly from the edge of the fabric, as it's on the bolt.

i usually cut my fabric from the wrong side because I like to see the grain lines, but it really doesn't matter.

i also prefer to cut my long strips parallel with the selvage instead of from selvage to selvage. that way i usually get at least two sides that have a true grain.

do you mean when they scissor cut it, they cut it crocked? If so, you will need to even it up before cutting out blocks. I always cut from the front, don't know why, just do.

the cut looks "right" at the time the clerk does it, but the fabric reverts to what it really wants to do after it's washed and dried. it sometimes gets pulled off-grain while being processed.

i usually buy a bit extra - if available and not overly expensive - to allow for shrinkage and errors - and mind changing

Is the pattern stamped on?

I do cut from the "good side". I also tend to buy extra, but then I usually buy fabric because I like it, and don't have a particular project in mind. :?

Yes, I did wash and dry the fabric. Maybe thats why it looks like that now. I also ironed it with Magic Sizing. Now it looks like it's distorted. What did I do wrong? Last time I made a top I washed and just ironed, no sizing and it turned out fine.

Thanks for the help

When I "soaked" my fabric with sizing, it was harder to handle.

It also stretched while I was ironing it.

When I just sort of "misted" it, it felt nice and crisp.

I usually cut my fabric right side out. And I always have to square it up. Sometimes it pulls out of shape on the bolt and sometimes it is because we washed it.

most of the time i cut my fabric right side up. if the pattern is so busy that i can't see the lines of the ruler well then i cut wrong side up so i can see the lines better.