Tearing fabric to straighten it
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 865
Ok, so pulling the thread gets the same result as ripping, but without the distortion? I've done both, but have too admit I enjoy ripping! On the other hand, I abhor fabric waste. Will try to take the time for thread pulling in the future.
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
At the LQS I work at we tear all our wide backing fabric...too many times owner ended up short when the fabric was cut. Tearing puts the fabric straight on grain, an essential to LA quilting.
To avoid distortion, a pulled thread on regular width fabric works well, as mentioned earlier.
To avoid distortion, a pulled thread on regular width fabric works well, as mentioned earlier.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 390
I pull a thread. The thread always breaks a couple of times, but I cut up to where the thread broke and sometimes find the end, but if not the next thread works fine. I agree that there is a gleeful satisfaction in tearing, but probably not good for the fabric.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,867
#18
Some fabric is so horribly crooked there is nothing you can do to find the straight of the grain without losing a lot of fabric. Very disappointing sometimes. These are mostly stamped designs and not woven.
#19
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Posts: 175
HettyB
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: North-East England
Posts: 681
I don’t know if it’s just my imagination but I seem to remember at one time fabric was always torn by staff in fabric shops.
Now I’ve noticed that when I buy from a general fabric shop the fabric will be cut with scissors or rotary cutter - and is rarely straight. As I tend to buy small pieces - sometimes just half or quarter yard/metre this can be very frustrating. Occasionally the assistant will give a generous measurement, knowing that they are not cutting straight, but not always.
However, when I buy from a quilting fabric shop it’s a very different experience. One (pricey) shop I sometimes go to sells fabric by the inch. It is very carefully measured and cut using a rotary cutter and ruler.
Now I’ve noticed that when I buy from a general fabric shop the fabric will be cut with scissors or rotary cutter - and is rarely straight. As I tend to buy small pieces - sometimes just half or quarter yard/metre this can be very frustrating. Occasionally the assistant will give a generous measurement, knowing that they are not cutting straight, but not always.
However, when I buy from a quilting fabric shop it’s a very different experience. One (pricey) shop I sometimes go to sells fabric by the inch. It is very carefully measured and cut using a rotary cutter and ruler.
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05-04-2011 11:55 AM