KathyKat

Ripping is the best way to get the fabric squared properly. However you may have stretched the fabric sideways slightly at the end of the strips. You can yank them back into shape. I always allow extra so I can then re-trim the edges with ruler and rotary cutter.

Dodie

many years ago in high school home ec we were taught to always tear our fabric length wise or the side with the selvedge that was to strighten it upI guess since being taught this that I do it I always tear my borders but about 1/2
inch wider than I want then I trim the fuzzy edges I don't know why yours got wavy on the end but I tear slow and have never had a problem 100 % cotton should tear very straight

Holice

I don't believe you said whether or not you measured the border and then ripped. When I rip I always rip longer than the cut border. This avoids a bit of bowing at the end. If however, you have measured and then ripped as stated above, carefully iron and perhaps starch. You need to make sure the one side of the border is not "out of focus" or grain.....If this is the case, then squish it back to the size it should be and work it into the side of the quilt.
I would pin at the end and then ease the possible bunching into the side. Hopefully this shoud take care of it.
I sometime will rip wider than required and then trim off the thread edges.

glowworm

Things to consider: Fabric is not what it used to be. And, when the manufacturer rolls the fabric on the bolt, it gets out of shape. Look in the archives for "straigtening fabric".

CircleSquare

There are 2 problems with tearing: #1. The fabric is not always woven straight. Or perhaps it gets stretched off grain when being rolled onto the bolt - something that happens by huge machines at the mill. You can't count on getting fabric square by tearing it.
#2. Tearing the fabric damages the threads at the tear. The thicker and better quality the fabric, the more this is true.

I am a professional long-arm quilter and I try to discourage my clients from ever tearing their fabric.

mpspeedy

Are you "pressing" or ironing. I know it sounds dumb but it does make a difference. Use steam and "press". 'As for the tearing I tear as far as I can reach before moving my hands. For a border piece that would probably be in at least yard increments. Fabric is not a finite entinty. My husband is a machinest and spends most days cutting up huge pieces of metal. It has to be perfect so that the things made from it fit together properly. The slightest difference in temperture etc. can make the metal smaller or larger. He has even had to transport metal pieces across the shoprin a cooler with dry ice to maintain their size and shape. If metal is impacted by heat and cold etc. how can we expect fabric to maintain it's size and shape when it is so much more pliable.

w1613s

Would straightening the fabric of the offending strips do the trick?

Once upon a time many, many years ago public schools had home economics classes for girls (some very enlightened ones had classes for boys too). In one of those classes I learned about fabric that was printed off grain and straightening fabric that had been pulled off grain somehow. The teacher told us not to use fabric printed off grain for projects that had to "fall" correctly. If you cut according to the print, the project was askew. If you straightened the fabric, the print was askew. Bottom line there was check to see if the fabric was printed off line and avoid it if possible. The next most important thing she taught me was how to straighten fabric.

She advised us to find a friend who sewed and would bring a feel for fabric to the straightening project. That friend would "girl" (not "man" - teacher was early women's libber) one non-selvage edge of pre-washed fabric, a corner in each hand. You would take the other non-selvage edge and its corners. The fabric would be gently "tugged" or pulled, catty corner, diagonal by diagonal, until it was straightened.

It seems the washing and straightening would do the trick for the offending strips.

Hugs, Pat

RkayD

ripping the fabric just follows the grain. You still have to get the fold straight. I always had a problem with curves UNTIL I ran across an article about how to do it right and I've never had a problem since. If you hold a piece of material up with both selvages even and together in your hand and look down at the fold..it usually is kind of wonky. But if you slide the selvage until the fold is straight and smooth but your selvages are off kilter your cuts will be straight. It doesn't matter if your cutting a big piece of fabric or just your strip. Get that fold straight! And allow a little extra on each side to get a straight cut from the shifting. I read about it in this book by Fon's & Porter....

http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Guide-Ro...9492209&sr=8-3

it changed my love affair with my rotary cutter. LoL!

Pat G

I will never rip fabric. I don't get the result some people claim to get. I end up with a big mess. I recently tried to rip again with some short 1 1/2" strips & had to toss that pc. For me, it's strictly ruler & rotary cutter. Good luck.

Peckish

I'm with those who say ripping isn't all that great, I've had much better results with cutting.