cpfrog

When they rip the fabric, it does stretch a bit, but in the olden days (60's-90's), they "gave you" a couple extra inches!

Now the few stores I shop in, are down to the exact inch! Hellloooooooo???? what about shrinkage? not to mention the uneven cuts. Sometimes, esp. with young salesgirls, I watch carefully that I'm getting the yardage I asked for.

Dodie

I also remember the little machine that nipped then the clerk ripped but in that day we bought our fabric at Wards Sears and Penny's also was taught in home ec was the only way to straighten fabric

memepat

I have been getting fabric that is unevenly cut. One piece I ripped when I got it home and it was 6" on one end and less than an inch on the other end. I don't think this was done at the shop but from the factory. I very seldom rip my fabric unless it is really off.

patchitpat

I do on occasion still to this day. Especially when I have to cut a lot of strip for strip sets, then I know that they are actually straight, because sometimes they are wavy :(

Millstream Mom

I love to rip strips - great for venting frustrations! Of course this means a little extra work, because then I'll have to iron all those edges to make sure they lay flat.

Most everything else is cut with a rotary cutter - I detest cutting my fabric with scissors. The edges just aren't crisp enough for me.

Mkotch

I still do it when I need a wide piece because I find it's more accurate in size than cutting with my rotary cutter. I often rip the length of fabric for a border. Just iron the ripply edge with steam and it should un-stretch.

dilyn

I know they still rip the fabric at Mary Jo's in Gastonia, NC. Not only does it give the straight grain, but it's a lot faster. I was there on a day when some tour busses were there and I really appreciated it being faster!

Carol J.

I had forgotten about that machine, it always intrigued me as a child. I still tear cloth to get a straight edge but don't try it if you plan on using bed sheets. They are not cut on the grain, they are cut on a pile of cloth with a band saw.

Carol J.

gkeen

Speakng of snip and rip, we would take our old clothes and rip them into strips, snip a hole in each end to tie them together, then crochet a rug out of them. Haven't done it in years!!

jhoward

I remember in Jr high the teacher ripping the fabric for my apron project....only it didn't rip where it should have, so the ended up with an iron on patch. : (