:idea: A question for you all. When I was very young (will not say how long ago that was) and took Home Ec. I was taught that you should pull the crosswise threads on the material to straighten it. I have been doing this for a long time and I am now thinking that maybe I don't have to do this for my quilt fabrics. Does anyone else pull threads to straighten fabric? :)

I don't pull mine. But I remember when I was in junior high school we did that but I couldn't tell you why. But I do remember doing that.

I learned that too! I don't do it too much, but sometimes it still helps.

We did that in HomeEc class to. At the time I thought it was a waste of time but, the teacher said "you needed to find the true grain of the fabric so it would hang properly." All I can say now is, I'm glad I don't have to do that with my quilting fabric, way too time consuming.

Don't see what it could hurt. In fact, with some fabric I've had, it was a must!

only if necessary. if i buy a panal or some fabric that is very obviously 'off-grain' i pull a thread and straighten, most of the time i don't worry about it ...it doesn't seem as important cutting quilt squares as it was cutting out a sleeve. :thumbup:

Maybe has to do with fabric quality? I think fabric has improved greatly over the last 20-30 years. :)

I remember it too. By the time I made an elastic waist skirt consisting of two rectangles sewn together and a casing put in during Home Ec, I'd already made a winter coat at home. The whole "pull the thread" thing was as ridiculous then as it is now. I did it that once in class, never again.

And how does one do that?

Funny you bring this up , I just did this last night on a piece that was cut REALLY off grain. Getting back to the true grain helps to cut straight strips , without the V or W. If I am working with long strip sets it really helps them from getting curvy.
If I am in a rush I tear some fabrics to get to the true straight.