My favorite LQS, now out of business, used to tear all of their fabric. What a blessing. They still sell over the internet, and have an occasional sale at a local hotel. Yippee Skippee. I know that I get all the fabric I'm paying for. Unlike W-M where you sometimes come home 2" shy or 1/2" to the good. It's a crap shoot. Oh, well. The it's always an adventure I guess.

I tear fabric, too. Now every time I do, I will hear the fabric cry.

I'll tear fabric to get straight again if i notice the grain is wonky. I tend to buy several inches more than I'm needing anyway and that way I feel it's straight :)

Oh and LOVE the fabric! Can you provide the selvage info ? Thanks :)

Some people feel that ripping the fabric, while it is straight when you rip, bruises about 1/4" on either side of the rip. It won't press out flat and most then cut it off. So, you take your pick: tear for absolute straight of weave or cut with a rotary cutter. Whatever floats your boat!

Ahhhh.. so relaxing to tear fabric and get the frustration out !LOL When needed that is... I mostly use scissors or a rotary cutter .. Just depends on what the fabric is and what I am doing .. LOL

A great trip down memory lane. As others have commented, the tearing method works really well for borders.

It's always a shock when I tear fabric in front of someone, just like my shock when a quilt teacher in a class I was taking, ripped her fabric. It's something I do when I'm sewing together a backing for a quilt too. It definitely gives you a straight line of fabric.

I have always said that tearing or tipping fabric is great therapy! I haven't figured out the why but it always makes me feel better and when I want my quilts to lie flat I always tear and straighten the grain makes the ends results so perfect. Ahhh job well done.