Do you tear your fabric to put in on grain?
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seacoast New Hampshire
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I was reading in a quilting book that to prep your fabric, prewashed or not, you tear it to put it on grain, line up selvedges and starch it to get it back to shape, as when it is rolled onto the bolt it becomes a bit off.
Do you do this? If not, how do you prepare your fabric?
Do you do this? If not, how do you prepare your fabric?
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,232
Originally Posted by Butterfli19
I guess I don't understand how it doesn't make it more off grain. I mean, ripping something should distort the rest of the fabric, so doesn't ripping make it worse?
#6
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 79
Originally Posted by Butterfli19
I guess I don't understand how it doesn't make it more off grain. I mean, ripping something should distort the rest of the fabric, so doesn't ripping make it worse?
#7
I prewash and rip anything that needs to be straight. Even with my longest ruler I can't cut say border pieces straight. If I tear them I know they are on grain. Years ago I worked for a Bernina dealer who made her bread and butter doing custom dressmaking and alterations. I learned a lot from her about fabric. Straight of grain is very important in garment construction. According to her fabric is often loaded on the bolt damp which distorts it even more. In her shop we made everything from wedding dresses to shower curtains. If it had to hang straight we either tore it or pulled a thread to get the exact straight of grain. It really does make a difference in the finished product.
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
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I don't rip my fabric. I don't like how it distorts and separates the weave. If you are working with a plaid or check that had to be perfect I might. I sometimes will rip a huge yardage in half to make it more managable (too big a piece to rotary cut on mat).
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Bowie, Maryland
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by Butterfli19
I was reading in a quilting book that to prep your fabric, prewashed or not, you tear it to put it on grain, line up selvedges and starch it to get it back to shape, as when it is rolled onto the bolt it becomes a bit off.
Do you do this? If not, how do you prepare your fabric?
Do you do this? If not, how do you prepare your fabric?
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