every shop I get fabric from in the area, cuts. I go to TN and at the fabric outlet there they tear the cottons. The first time I took my DGD and they tore her fabric I thought she was going to go balistic (she was maybe 13 or 14 and made her first quilt at 6) I told her it was okay and that was the way we learned to do it when I was in jr. high home ec class. Her look was priceless. I will take it either way but seem to have less waste when it is torn and again depends on how the bolt was handled for the previous customer