When you buy fabric from your LQS, do they tear or cut?

Do you personally have a strong preference for one or the other?

And if you do, and what you prefer is NOT what your LQS does, what happens then?

The cut, and that is what I am happy with.

They cut and that is how I would prefer they do it.

I wonder if this is a regional thing. I've gone to A LOT of quilting stores in Washington, probably nearly all of them in Western Washington, and quite a few in Oregon, and I've only been to one that tears. Frankly, I was stunned and I didn't like it at all.

The next time I went to that shop, quite a distance from home, the batiks were on sale. I picked a large number of bolts, had hubby also carry a large number of bolts, put them on the counter and requested that they cut the fabric rather than tear it. They said they "could not" cut it, so I let them keep it. :shock: I was so annoyed we went to the shop two blocks down (the only other fabric shop in town) and bought A LOT of fabric which they were happy to cut.

Good for you! I'd have done the same thing. Tearing lengthwise is fine and I do that for borders, but tearing fabric crosswise really stretches it out of shape and you'd lose inches before you even prewash/preshrink it.

Here there are a few shops that cut with scissors claiming it's safer for their clerks, but they never cut as straight as those that use rotary cutters. None of them rip around here (NH).

Every quilt store I've ever been to, mostly in the SF Bay Area, cuts. Every show I've been to I've only seen cutting. I think I'd pass out if iI saw them tearing. something about it just doesn't sit right with me - seems almost sacreligious.

I prefer cut fabric. all those threads everywhere doesn't appeal to me at all. that's how I cut my thumb with my rotary cutter. i tore fabric and then tried to trim the edge with my long ruler but had it turned to the side that did not have the guard i'd put on it!

Our LQS cuts fabric. I would hate for someone to pull on the fabric to tear it, might stretch it out of proportion.

My local quilt shop rotary cuts my fabric. :D
Chain fabric store in my area rips. :cry:

Deara

One lqs used to tear, but has gone to rotary cutting, thank goodness. All others I've been to cut.

Whenever I think of tearing fabric, my mind pictures pioneer women tearing the ruffle off of their petticoats to make bandages. <LOL>