ShirlinAZ

This is one time that "close enough is good enough". Square your ruler on the center fold of full width fabric. You can probably look down the length of the ruler and see that you are pretty close to lined up with the fabric threads. If so, you are on straight of grain. Same thing applies working with the length of the fabric, except there is no center fold.

Straight of grain will be easier to cut, sew, and iron as it won't stretch totally out of shape like bias can.

Sometimes you will want to use stripes, plaids, or checks. Then don't worry about straight of grain, just line up your ruler with the print.

Most of us are saying the same thing, but different people understand differently. I hope one of these makes sense to you.

dlong

Fabric has 3 grains: straight, cross and bias. Straight grain is parallel to the selvage edges and has very little or no stretch. Cross grain runs from selvage to selvage and has some stretch. Bias is 45 degrees to either selvage and has lots of stretch. If you sew squares together and match straight grain to straigt grain as well as cross grain to cross grain it's much easier to keep the seam lines straight and avoid puckers in the seams. If you sew bias to straight grain you can almost guarantee that the bias will be too long and the pieces won't fit when you sew them together.

sharoney

And what advice is that? pulled thread or eyeball? I don't have students, BTW, I was talking about when I was a student. Lol

laalaaquilter

Thank you all! I appreciate hearing from both camps and learning the reasoning behind this. I used sog when I learned to sew clothing from my sister and knew about following the arrow on the pattern but just hadn't thought out how it might impact seam sewing for quilts or quilt drape, etc.

I knew I would get a wealth of advice and you all have not disappointed!

jitkaau

If you cut everything squarely and don't stretch the bias pieces, your quilt goes together in half the time.Points and seams meet accurately, no seam ripping, no re - sewing and quilts hang or sit squarely and do not look 'wonky'. The quilting is easier as well as there is no bunching up. Ask any long arm quilter if they prefer to quilt a well pieced quilt or one thrown together and the answer is obvious.Even when you are making crazy quilts you still square the blocks up. Paper piecing is the easiest way to keep bias and straight grain pieces working together and one instance where grain isn't so important.

stitchntimesewing

Here! Here! I totally agree with you lol....

Jingle

I just fabric in half square up the end and start cutting. Works for me.
Good luck figuring which person is right.

laalaaquilter

I don't think 'right' is the best word in this instance lol

I saw the link with the video of how to get it straight and it works well, I just was wondering why to take the trouble.

Now I know ;-)

Gerbie

Go to Sharon Pederson on the Quilt Show daily Blog. Sharon has a video about the straight of the grain.
I was taught in 4-H and Home Ecs. and by my mother about the straight of the grain. if it isn't on the straight of the grain it's on the bias and often times stretches too much. I would recommend viewing this video for all concerned about the straight of the grain.

Gerbie

Ditto this is exactly what I do before I start cutting. Most fab. you purchase even in LQS or other fabric shops the ends may look even but when you make sure the fold is even and all wrinkles out of the fab. selvg. even, you will have uneven ends almost always. I always even my up before I start cutting, or I end up with problems somewhere while cutting.