when the folks at LQS don't bother to cut fabric that has a very clear straight line pattern to it along that line? I've been working with the Boy Scout line of fabric and I do acknowledge that several pieces of the material were all wonky on the bolt which means I'm having to block each piece to get the pattern lines straight. But on at least 2 pieces I got locally I lost 3 - 4 inches of length due to the way it was cut. So, is it just me or do you think fabric should be cut along pattern lines when it's very obvious? Oh, and another thing - not even a 1/4 inch extra over the yard I asked for!!

i agree with you 100%. I find it very aggravating when I get home and the fabric has been cut wonky.

That is so frustrating. You would think they know better.

Yeah,irritating. I was in a shop a while back, got 4 yds. Obviously, the bolt had been cut wonky. The clerk laid it straight on the table, needed to cut almost 3 inches off to make a straight cut. I told her If she just measured from the straight, she didn't need to cut off the wonky part. "OH, no, no way, I couldn't do that." So she cut it, then THREW THE WONKY PART IN THE TRASH!!

there is a lady at joanns I will wait till someone else is free she is notorious for not cutting staring and tearing the fabric! Cannot stand it just waist.

There are a couple here that will do this, and it always frustrates me. (JoAnn's is the worst) The LQS that is the closest to me also measures to the exact inch-no 1/4" extra. They do use a ruler and rotary cutter, so it is straight.

I will also give credit where credit is due. Our local Hancock Fabrics always cuts on that line. You always know you will get the pattern line cut straight. I always watch though because everyone can make a mistake.

The associates that cut the fabrics at the WalMarts I shop at have ALWAYS cut along a pattern/design line (single layer).

Hmmm - And I have had a clerk at a LQS not be aware of a design line and cut it wonky.

I haven't had that problem at my LQS, but I often have had that problem with fabric I've bought at shows. Most vendors cut off whatever yardage I want with a rotary cutter or scissors, but they're in a hurry due to the lines, which I suppose is understandable.

Then there are those who take a snip and tear the fabric, leaving a ravelly edge. You know who you are. grrrrr

I bought a couple of pieces last week at my LQS which had a definite repeat and the employee took minute pains to cut it exactly evenly. Good people there.

I tell 'em! Please cut along the lines so I can use it all. Some of them don't seem to like it a lot but better them mad than me! I make sure they cut only one layer and if they say they can't do it I'll ask to speak to a manager. I'm fanatic about it.

Me too... Have seen 2 inches removed rather than given to customer, what a waste, and I know many use tearing as a way to cut fabric, but don't care for it. :)

I bought some panels once at Walmart, curtain panels. I told the girl I wanted 14 of them then I said, I'll be back and went to look at more fabric. When I came back she'd cut 8 of them straight across the folded fabric and ruined them. Then she got upset when I refused to take them. I said, "Okay, you obviously haven't been shown how to cut fabric, you ruined them beyond what I can use and I'm supposed to overlook that and take them? No, this isn't going to happen. What is going to happen is I'm going to show you how to cut in the future." and I did. I was able to salvage enough and found another bolt so I got what I wanted.

Our local Joann's is the same way but I actually request them to cut it along the lines. They may look at me funny but they do it.

i quit going to one lqs,because she uses electric scissors, and the cuts are always bad..
and it is NOT because she has a disability, she just says it is faster..i would rather she use a ruler and cutter. (like the other 2 lqs' that i go to do)
Joanns drives me crazy too, but they are not to bad...

My Jo Ann's is notorious for cutting carelessly. It is one of the reasons I rarely shop there. It was just too aggrivating, getting less than a usable yard is not good value.

Very aggravating.

I can remember back in the 70's it was routine to always cut 3" extra to account for out of straight cuts and designs in fabric. Those days are long gone. I guess now we are supposed ask and pay for extra to account for it. :roll:

I've not had a problem at our local Joann's yet. Usually they are very eager to please for some reason.

I always let the shop know (if I don't notice right away)that my fabric was cut stupid. I don't like to waste money and not have enough of an expensive fabric because of the store's mistake.

I worked Fabrics in Wal Mart for several years. When working with a Patchwork pattern or a panel or anything that had a line pattern to it, I would always cut along the line closest to the yardage. You cut one side along the line of the fabric to the fold and then turn the bolt over and cut the other side on the line so that the customer would get a straight cut according to the panel or pattern design. I think this makes just good sense.

Just curious, why are you offended when fabric is torn? The tear is on the grain......

I mind because sometimes the fabric is "frazzled" - for lack of a better term - up to an inch on both sides of the tear.

True, it does that when it is pre-washed sometimes too. But don't you find that when you fold your fabric to square the end that you lose up to an inch sometimes? If it is on the bolt "wonky" and they do the perfect cut with the rotary blade, I find I am sometimes short.

1) I usually try to check the grain line on the bolt before buying to see if it seems to be reasonably "on"

1a) If it is off-grain, and I buy it anyway, I buy "extra" to compensate for that.

2) I overcast or serge the raw edges before washing, so I "lose" only the seamed part (maybe 1/8 inch on each end)

3) If it is "off-grain" - technically, I don't "lose" anything - my rectangle just became a parallelogram and the ends aren't perpendicular to the selvages. Sometimes it's been up to three or four inches.



I know these things because:

1) I have on occasion bought or been given fabrics that were seriously off-grain and only usable for rug weaving.

2) I used to just wash the fabrics without overcasting the ends - and sometimes some of the fabrics would unravel up to 3/4 of an inch or more - especially the so-called "better" ones if they had a bit of a bias ends.

3) Sometimes I have "lost" fabric due to shrinkage. I have measured fabrics before and after washing them. Not all of them shrink. Some shrink a lot.

Never thought of serging before I wash. Good idea.

If the grain is off, do you still use it for patterns that call for WOF?

I usually make my first cut parallel to/with the selvage.

That way, if cutting squares or rectangles, at least two sides of the piece will be on-grain.

Thanks, I appreciate the answers.

My favorite quilt shops here in town cut with a mat and rotory cutter. I love that more than I can express.

But the fabric stores are a completely different story.

Been there !!!And I can so relate... Now I watch when they cut my fabric. If i don't like what i see I make sure to mention.. Hey its my money, and I want what i paid for!!!

Our closest Hancock Fabrics has recently been remodeled to include lots more crafting items. It's a great improvement over the old store. On my last trip there, I was buying fabric for the first time since the remodel and noticed that the cutting table had the standard rulers along the edge, but NO "groove" or line for the clerk to follow for cutting straight. I commented to the gal who was cutting for me and she didn't seem bothered by it. She, fortunately, had a good eye for "straight" and cut my fabric okay. I'm gonna be really watchful the next time I go in there. Often I get a clerk who doesn't give a darn how she cuts. That could cause me to be seriously short on fabric once I straighten out the cut.

Let the buyer beware!!!

Sue

I never minded until I noticed, with a gingham, that the lines were a little distorted. I wasn't why it was that way, but an older/wiser quilter showed me that when they tear the fabric, sometimes it stresses the threads that make up the fabric but we rarely catch it unless it's with an obviously, straight line fabric. Months later, I read the same thing in one of my quilting books. Now, I cut just to be safe. :|

Bearisgray: Losing so much to fraying in the wash is exactly why I hand wash all my fabric in the kitchen sink now. There will still be some stringies, by NOTHING like the wad you get from a washing machine. What I wish I had was an old fashioned wringer!!

I lose nothing to fraying in my wash now because I either serge or overcast the raw edges before washing.

Sometimes you may get a fabric where the print is not printed on grain. That presents a problem and if you want to use it you must cut according to the print and not the weave of the fabric.

After getting a few bad cuts, one learns to be more selective and/or more assertive.

I don't fault the clerks anymore as they are not the ones who put it on the blot to begin with. It is the manufactureers at the mill not taking the time to be sure it is on the bolt straight.

I use a rotary cutter and ruler and always give an extra 1/2 inche per yard when measuring.. When I get a bolt of fabric that is printed off grain, I will add enough to compesate, sometimes up to 2 inches on each end. Oh yeah, at no extra charge.

And if I am at the end of a bolt I give any thing less that 1/4 yard to the customer at no charge.

It always bugs me at Hancocks when the measure the end of the bold to the inch and charge me for it...

I DO think fabric should be cut along pattern lines, but you have to tell the cutter in advance; never assume that common sense prevails or that anyone else shares the same thought(s) that you do. Politely make very clear what you want. I always do and it saves being angry at myself for wasting money. Luckily I've been fairly fortunate with fabric I've bought on-line. I've bought from 4 different on-line fabric companies and there is only one of those that I will not do business with again.

Fabric.com always gives you inches extra not to mention good service.I've been ordering from them for years and have never been disappointed,check it out ladies.Jetta

M LQS is certainly not like that. Didn't realize I was so blessed!!

Irritated? Who, me? :shock: Never!!! ROFLOL :lol: