Cut or tear?

[sewUK]

I'm using a double duvet cover to make a quilt so I'm cutting 5 straighgrain lenthwise strips 11" wide with 4 'brick' strips in between. The thought of cutting 58" long strips accurately in the usual way - folding and lining up - had me worried. I could see bowing happening!!! So, against all usual advice, I decided to tear. Yippee, the strips are a perfect measurement all the way up and down - no bowing.

I'm interested - in this instance would you have gone for 'cut or tear'.

[irishrn]

I tear my fabric a lot! If I know I need to have a border say 4 1/2 inches I tear a 5 inch strip, iron it up, align the torn edge and then make cuts to the size I need. This is how I learned and have had no trouble with it. I only do this for long pieces.
If I buy a lot of fabric off a bolt and know I only need a certain number of yards for the project, I rip the yardage off first. I do this a lot with wide backing fabric too to get the backing fabric square.

[Alpha O]

Tearing will also let you know if the fabric is off-grain.

I will tear WOF if it looks off. A lot of times, it's an illusion, but there are also times when it isn't. Saves some trouble if fabric is directional.

[cmhquilter]

I have done this when piecing backing fabric and have not had a problem so far.

[bajasadie]

Hi, I learned how to quilt w/ Eleanor Burns back in the 80's-you tore cotton into strips in those days-there wasn't the rotary cutter yet!

[Granny Fran]

It's also a great way to get any pent up frustration out of the way. LOL

[GrammaBabs]

tear for sure.... good quality fabric will tear perfectly with little problem... can't tell you how many times i opt for this method... people cringe, but i'm not known for patience, getting to the sewing part....LOL

[Kgrammiecaz]

It was scary the first time I did it. I learned the process in a craftsy class. So if I need just a bit off of what I purchased, I tear! Works great!

[LRM]

I like to tear the store-cut edge, especially if it is extra-wide fabric for backing. Then I know I'm starting with something good. It also lets me see if the print is on the grain. I think it is a great idea for length of fabric when those strips are so long.

[Vonnie]

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.