sewnsewer2

I'd rather have it ripped than for them to cut it crooked as some do!

JulieR

I see what you're saying, but whether the store cut or tore the fabric you were still going to have to deal with a print that was not straight itself. Frankly I would probably have taken it back; how impossible to have to make all of your cuts "off" the correct fabric direction to get a proper vertical line!

I think we are all just a product of our experiences. I've lost loads of yardage over the years with cutting, and have never had a single issue with tearing, so my choice is clear. Anyone who has the opposite experience would surely have the opposite preference, and that's okay! :)

Snorky Lvs2Quilt

I have seen it done both ways. I do feel that you get a straighter line when it is ripped because it follows the grain but I too don't like the ragged edges. Either way I have to work on neatening it up or squaring it up so it doesn't really matter to me which way they do it.

smarkin

Ripping the fabric does cause the fibers on the edge(where its been torn) sometimes up to 3/4 of an inch or more that becomes unusable. I ask for mine to be cut. No, its not cheep to begin with and when you have to go home and trim off all the damage. I won't buy it if they won't cut it.

makakehau

Wow! Thanks everyone for all of your input. It has been very interesting and informative to see everyone's opinion and preference regarding this matter.

Have a great day :lol:
Lori

Aurora

I can remember when all cotton fabric was torn. I think I actually see more raveling with cut fabric than with torn. Tearing gives a straighter more acurate piece of fabric. I hate getting home and finding the fabric was cut 4 inches shorter on one side. I am not real happy when they cut my fabric with dull scissors that chew the fabric.

I was impressed that there are those around who still tear the fabric. The one around here that does also seems to take more care in the folding of the fabric after tearing it.

If you don't like the tearing, ask them to please cut it.

piepatch

I don't like the look of torn fabric myself, but I seldom see it torn because the shops around here don't tear. Long ago, a lot of shops did tear the fabric because they said it made a "straighter cut", and I think maybe it did back then. A lot of the fabric today is not woven straight and is woven in such a way that if you tear, you don't get a straight of grain cut. Just my opinion.

dewie45

It seems to be a reflection of how poor the quality of fabric is today. At one time better cotton goods were all printed 'on grain.' Fabric was torn to guarantee you were getting the amount you were paying for. It was actually the lesser shops or departments that would cut instead of tearing. When the wrinkle-free finishes began to appear you couldn't permanently straighten them at all so cutting became more the norm. I would certainly like to be able some of that older cotton, cut or torn.

jitkaau

So long as they allow a little lee - way for the tearing, I would not be worried. However, just about every place I go to in this country has a furrow in the cutting table which the scissors are moved along so that there is an accurate cut. If they don't have that, they measure and accurately cut with a rule and rotary cutter.

steelecg

some fabric is off grain by a lot, so if they tear and begin on grain then you get more material and don't have to deal with off grain fabric later. Sometimes it doesn't make that much difference but on the other hand it can. I don't care for the ragged edge either but it is easy to trim and you lose less fabric by trimming on grain.