Cut or tear?

[Davidsgirl08]

I always tear when making the backing for a quilt. It's accurate and that's a lot of fabric to cut straight

[Bubby]

I tear fabric at times, but since I got the Stripology ruler I do more cutting. I use a lot of the 108" backings and I always tear them.

[Josephine09]

I have never heard of tearing your fabric! How on earth does it tear straight?!?

[baskets4deb]

How on earth does it tear straight?!?

It follows the grain of the fabric. In other words, it follows one thread. Back in the olden days, 1970-71 , I worked in a fabric store, We tore cottons, taffeta and even 100% wool flannel. Even if your fabric is cut off the bolt with a straight edge and rotary cutter it is often not straight of grain. Fabric is put on bolts mechanically and is often pulled askew.

[bscuzz]

My question is: how wide was your fabric to begin with? I very seldom find fabric that's wide enough to get four 11" strips. Usually all I can manage is 42" (10 1/2" wide).

My Aunt and Grandmother always tore their fabric. We also used razor blades instead of seam rippers. I can remember holding one side with my mouth, then the other sid with my left hand, hold it taut, and running the razor blade down the stitches. Never cut myself either. Nowadays I would not let a kid do that.

On first reading I thought you meant you held the razor blade in your mouth!!! Yikes - then I read again!! I remember my mama ripping with a razor blade, but I usually helped hold the fabric!!

[sewUK]

My question is: how wide was your fabric to begin with? I very seldom find fabric that's wide enough to get four 11" strips. Usually all I can manage is 42" (10 1/2" wide).

My Aunt and Grandmother always tore their fabric. We also used razor blades instead of seam rippers. I can remember holding one side with my mouth, then the other sid with my left hand, hold it taut, and running the razor blade down the stitches. Never cut myself either. Nowadays I would not let a kid do that.

Vonnie - as I said I'm using a double duvet cover so the measurement is 59"x79" (and you get two sides!) so I have plenty to play with. I originally bought this duvet set from Ikea many years ago thinking I would use it for backing fabric so I'm happy to have found a way to use it in a quilt. I think it's always worth checking out bedding as long as it's 100% cotton.

BTW thanks for all your interesting comments - just one thing ... I've never torn crossgrain as I always believed it wasn't reliably straight just done the balancing act with the selvedges. M-m-m-m?

[Hulamoon]

I tore all my fabric before putting on my comic book cards. When I was making girls twirl skirts I tore all the time.

[KPH]

Another tear vote.

You should have seen my BIL's face when I tore 8 yards of fabric in half for his stack and whack quilt. lol... it was totally worth waiting for him to come to the sewing room.

[Lynnep]

I usually tear for looonnngg strips and have had no issues (except a bit more raveling)...

[DJ_Nichol]

I always tear my fabric to straighten the edge. Its how Grandma did it, and she was a master seamstress. Go with what ya know I guess :-)