GingerK

A lot of flannelette will still skew after washing even if it is ripped. So you have the straight of grain but you can't cut a straight strip if you fold the fabric selvedge to selvedge. So what is the benefit?? I also have found that many current cottons--especially Kona-- will ravel excessively if they are on the grain. I actually have started to cut them slightly off the grain as long as it does not interfere with the pattern, if there is one. I wish someone could tell me why I need my 3 inch square to be 'on the grain' and also why it is so important to have my sashing or borders 'on the grain' instead of just straight.

Jane Quilter

It is not important in quilting. It is important in garment sewing, and it is mandatory in draperies and home dec.

Tartan

Very disappointing if you didn't allow for extra fabric.

sewingsuz

I rip my backing Fabric if I have too much. I measure what I want and cut a little on the salvage and rip so I don't have to put on a large table and keep marking the measurement. It works out ok because the ripped two to four inches will be cut off with the batting when my quilt is done and ready to bind. I like the shops to cut my fabric.

Mkotch

I rip sometimes, but mostly length of grain for borders. I love G Street Fabrics but thought they'd closed. Nice to know they are still around. My local chain hobby store uses scissors, so I always buy 1/4 yard extra there to make up for skewed cutting.

coffeecozy

Prism99, I have never thought to look at my fabrics under a microscope but am very curious about what the damage is. I have occasionally ripped a piece to get a straight grain and would not want to continue if the damage is serious.

ArtsyOne

I've never had fabric purchased online ripped, but I wish the seller of a recent purchase I made from eBay had done it. The fabric had several rows of 6" elephants and I was only able to use a single row from the center because it had been cut so crooked. For me, the trouble with ripped fabric is that when prewashing one has to zig-zag all of the edges or there's a big tangled mess of thread at the edges.

Austinite

I've bought from Green Fairy, Stitch Stash Diva, Fabric.com, and a few others overseas and never had anyone rip it. The only time I worry about straight of grain is with curtains and the like, and garments.

costumegirl

I don't usually like ripping fabric as it does damage to the fibers around the rip.

I never thought about ripping lengthwise for borders - It must be difficult to rip lengthwise since fabric is supposed to be stronger along the length instead of crosswise - is it harder? Is there a special way to do it?
I have a piece of backing fabric that I have to cut borders for a king size quilt and was thinking that it may be difficult to rotary cut the long strips.

KwiltyKahy

I used to work for Hancock's. The only time I ripped was if it was quilt backing. Those were never folded straight and it was impossible to cut them and still give the customer the length they asked for. So many fabrics have different finishes and dyes, that is one reason ripping stopped being the method of choice.