Tearing is the way to go if you need to make long cuts. If I'm making a quilt back using a single extra wide piece of backing fabric, I will not only tear with the grain (to get the width or remove selvages), but I will tear across the grain as well to get the proper length. I've never had a problem with tearing causing any distortion on cotton fabric.

Rob

I also tear it...

I've folded it in fourths and cut with a 60mm rotary cutter. I worry about runs (especially in dark fabric) when I tear - I've had it happen.

I use a rotary cutter and save it. Some day I might make a selvage quilt.

I fold the fabric into a manageable size; so for a yard, I fold it in half lengthwise on the selvage, then pin the fabric and then line up a ruler up to an inch from the edge of the selvage, I then use a rotary cutter. if the fabric is more than a yard, make sure that the fold is no more than 24" so that it is manageable to use a 24" ruler. Any longer and it's bound to wiggle thus giving an uneven edge.

I prefer to tear long pieces of fabric -- borders, binding, backing. For the backing, I will also tear from selvage to selvage, though some fabrics do not like to be torn that way. That way I am sure of getting them straight of grain. However, I have been known to leave the selvages on as long as they are wholly encased in the seam. Since I prewash my fabrics, I know if the selvages are going to shrink (and I have only had one piece of JAF where the selvages shrank). I know - heresy but the quilt police would have to open up the quilt to find the selvages. :)

If you own a serger try removing the thread and use the serger to cut the selvage off.

cmquilter

I rip. Get a straight on grain seam.

Add me to the ranks of rippers.... otherwise I serge if just joining strips together.

After reading everyone's posts I thought I was the only one to do it this way!!