AngelinaMaria

Sorry for the confusion. It is Hancock's of Paducah. I usually buy a dozen or so half yard cuts of batiks or other fabrics when they have a sale. This past order was for fabrics I needed so nothing was on sale but with the generous cuts, I certainly got good value.

BellaBoo

I think all cuttings depend on the mood of the cutter. Anyone that has to stand and cut fabric for a long period isn't going to be concerned about saving the store a 1/2 inch after a few hours. I know I wouldn't.

tessagin

I went to Hancocks last week when they were having a great sale and somethings still on sale at great discount. One of the clerks was cutting yardage for me and there was about another 1/2 yard left so I told her I'd just take that also. She said she would go ahead and give that to me for an extra 50% off the discount. Basically, I would have gotten that last 1/2 yard free. I told her I didn't mind paying the price since it was such a good deal. I would have put her on notice if I were the manager of the shop. How much money was lost because of employees like this? Would've been different if this was a garage sale but it wasn't. If you figure $6.00 a yard that's a lot of money going out the door on the hour. These employees need to think like this is their wages going out the door. Loss of money loss of employment. Many of these employees shoot themselves in the foot. May have been you got the last of the bolt. If it comes from the factory it's one thing to get the extra.

AngelinaMaria

I considered that I may have got "end of bolt" on the one yard cut but all my half yard cuts (11 different pieces) were made very generous as well.

It reminded me of the time I got a set of 10 one yard cuts and they were all cut at the 32 inch mark. I emailed the store and they said they had a problem with one of the shop workers remembering that one yard was 36 inches!!! When I was folding the fabrics during the week (my previous purchases) and so many of them were over 20 inches I was wondering if they were mixing up WOF at 40 to 42 inches with LOF which would be 36 for a yard and 18 for half yard. Regardless, it is nice for me but as many have mentioned, it makes you wonder how they can give away so many free inches. I would be satisfied with 1.5 inches and happy with anything over that.

bearisgray

As a customer, I always like to get more than I expected -

Also as a customer, I won't complain if the clerk cuts to the thread - as long as the thread is on 'my' side and the cut is straight. I will, however, complain if a cut is only 1/4 inch short! Especially if it's on several cuts.

But do I call and say - Yippee, I got lots extra! - No. Do any of you?

Funny - if we go to the butcher, we don't expect to get 18 ounces of ground beef for the price of 16 ounces. Wonder where we got this 'we expect/deserve extra' when it comes to buying fabric.

AngelinaMaria

bearisgrey-the thing about wanting/needing a little extra is when the cuts on one or both sides of the fabric are quite crooked and need a fair amount of straightening. Most of the time, after a piece has been "straightened" it is less than the half yard or full yard that you purchased. So, are we supposed to buy an extra 1/8 yard to compensate for this or just hope we get a few extra inches??

I have purchased from many, many online shops and only a few have given me really straight cuts on both sides. Most, there can be a one to 3 inch divergenge in size from the top (the fold) to the bottom (the selvage).

bearisgray

You will notice I said - IF the cut is straight -

I've learned to check the fabric grain lines before buying - if I still want to take a chance on the fabric, I do buy extra. There have been a few times I forgot to do that and regretted the purchase. I've also learned to not assume that the fabric will straighten out when it's washed. Sometimes it does - sometimes it does not.

Many places seem to have cutting stations - where there is that groove that the cutter follows - so most of the cuts that I've gotten are perpendicular to the fold.

I've also learned to buy extra to allow for shrinkage - I have a lot of 35 inch pieces in my stash that I KNOW I bought full yards of.

Buyer, be AWARE. Some clerks are very knowledgeable. Some are not.

I think of it the same way I think of hamburger. There is the raw weight - and then there is the cooked weight.

There is the off-the-bolt measurement - and then there is the usable, ready to cut measurement.

I think a store/shop should be consistent in its cutting policy.

Luv Quilts and Cats

Most of the local shops and Joannes around here are pretty much on the mark when cutting fabric. My friend's and I go to Marden's in Sanford and South Portland Me and we have noticed more times than not that when we go the cuts are very generous. And the fabrics are 3.99 to 4.99 per yard, Batiks might be a little more. They are first quality fabrics, but usually last year's or older fabrics. Love going there!

1screech

At Joann's, if you finish the bolt, they will give a 50% discount if it is less than a yard to finish it. It is standard procedure. The are not giving away the store. The left over piece would go in the remnant bin at 50% off anyway.

PS Stitcher

I have noticed that at my LQS stores around here, most give a little extra. If I ever buy at Joann's (not often for fabric) it is always right on.