Tearing fabric to straighten it
06-09-2018, 12:33 PM
#31
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cottage Grove, MN
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Today I went to a meeting where I volunteer and I was asking what tasks needed to be done when my church sends middle-schoolers to volunteer a few times this summer. As I was verifying if the group still tore the flannel for receiving blankets ( did for a while, then cut instead for a while-different leaders and different ideas), I was told they still do tear. So I verified the width and length and the gal asked me if I knew about tearing the end of the flannel to straighten it before I started to cut the 30'' squares. I looked at her and asked her to explain. She said to tear down the length of the bolt and then snip a little bit at the beginning of that length and then tear across the width to make all of the cuts straight further down the line. I looked at her and said ok but told her I was confused. We both smiled so now I need to do one more step. We would sometimes tug on the flannel like described above to get it straight. It has something to do with the flannel curling after washing the receiving blankets which are only one layer.
06-09-2018, 12:47 PM
#32
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Originally Posted by retiredteacher09
Today I went to a meeting where I volunteer and I was asking what tasks needed to be done when my church sends middle-schoolers to volunteer a few times this summer. As I was verifying if the group still tore the flannel for receiving blankets ( did for a while, then cut instead for a while-different leaders and different ideas), I was told they still do tear. So I verified the width and length and the gal asked me if I knew about tearing the end of the flannel to straighten it before I started to cut the 30'' squares. I looked at her and asked her to explain. She said to tear down the length of the bolt and then snip a little bit at the beginning of that length and then tear across the width to make all of the cuts straight further down the line. I looked at her and said ok but told her I was confused. We both smiled so now I need to do one more step. We would sometimes tug on the flannel like described above to get it straight. It has something to do with the flannel curling after washing the receiving blankets which are only one layer.
I will ask that question the next time I see the leader that commented on it. She wasn't at the meeting today.
06-09-2018, 04:39 PM
#34
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,585
There are a lot of things I used to do that I won't do now -- it's a difference in methods used by manufacturers -- sometimes better than 'in the old days', sometimes not! I think it's just as important (maybe more so) for quilt fabric to be straight as it is for garment fabric. The difference is that you can be working with much larger pieces of fabric which makes it harder to work with.
Whether the receiving blankets roll or not may depend upon the type of "serging" that is done -- I've used a serger stitch with two spools of "wooly nylon" which is a much narrower stitch than standard serger stitches. In my case, the fabric was upholstery fabric and did not roll, but in a lighter-weight fabric, such as flannel, it would roll -- I'm no expert -- have just experienced some of this stuff!
Whether the receiving blankets roll or not may depend upon the type of "serging" that is done -- I've used a serger stitch with two spools of "wooly nylon" which is a much narrower stitch than standard serger stitches. In my case, the fabric was upholstery fabric and did not roll, but in a lighter-weight fabric, such as flannel, it would roll -- I'm no expert -- have just experienced some of this stuff!
Last edited by Jeanette Frantz; 06-09-2018 at 04:43 PM. Reason: additional content
06-09-2018, 04:58 PM
#35
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Location: Mississippi
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I tear a lot of fabric... and then press the edge right back into shape.
As for finding the straight grain: Can't you see the grain in your fabric? I can always find it and orient my pattern pieces in line with it.
If fabric seems skewed, such as with panels, just pull hard on the bias to get it back in place. It works. Then iron.
As for finding the straight grain: Can't you see the grain in your fabric? I can always find it and orient my pattern pieces in line with it.
If fabric seems skewed, such as with panels, just pull hard on the bias to get it back in place. It works. Then iron.
06-09-2018, 07:43 PM
#36
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Durango CO
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Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
OK, this is probably just my imagination, but it seems as though there is less collateral damage if I tear the fabric really fast. If I go slowly, it appears that there's more of a ruffled edge.
06-10-2018, 08:36 AM
#38
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,859
IF you are looking for the "straight of grain" on the fabric, you can snip a piece and PULL A Thread. This will tell you where to cut. If a fabric looks really off I'll do this. Yes, sometimes, like tearing one end is much larger than another, as it' how they make it now. Digital prints are the worst.
Remember most fabrics are made in a foreign country by workers who don't care about quality. NOTHING is done well as in past times. I also find that I have to really watch things if I'm using a digital print as they are really stretchy - EVEN if they "claim" to be 100% Cotton. I now either starch the heck out of them or press a very thin stabilizer on the back.
Good news is we're not "YET" paying $25-$30 a yard for this same lower quality as many quilters in other country's are paying.
Remember most fabrics are made in a foreign country by workers who don't care about quality. NOTHING is done well as in past times. I also find that I have to really watch things if I'm using a digital print as they are really stretchy - EVEN if they "claim" to be 100% Cotton. I now either starch the heck out of them or press a very thin stabilizer on the back.
Good news is we're not "YET" paying $25-$30 a yard for this same lower quality as many quilters in other country's are paying.
06-10-2018, 09:33 AM
#39
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,867
Originally Posted by tuckyquilter
IF you are looking for the "straight of grain" on the fabric, you can snip a piece and PULL A Thread. This will tell you where to cut. If a fabric looks really off I'll do this. Yes, sometimes, like tearing one end is much larger than another, as it' how they make it now. Digital prints are the worst.
Remember most fabrics are made in a foreign country by workers who don't care about quality. NOTHING is done well as in past times. I also find that I have to really watch things if I'm using a digital print as they are really stretchy - EVEN if they "claim" to be 100% Cotton. I now either starch the heck out of them or press a very thin stabilizer on the back.
Good news is we're not "YET" paying $25-$30 a yard for this same lower quality as many quilters in other country's are paying.
Remember most fabrics are made in a foreign country by workers who don't care about quality. NOTHING is done well as in past times. I also find that I have to really watch things if I'm using a digital print as they are really stretchy - EVEN if they "claim" to be 100% Cotton. I now either starch the heck out of them or press a very thin stabilizer on the back.
Good news is we're not "YET" paying $25-$30 a yard for this same lower quality as many quilters in other country's are paying.
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