What am I doing wrong cutting long strips that they bow?
#102
Sometimes you might be letting the long ruler move so that is no longer straight. Also, if you are cutting more than one strip, you should stop and see if your strips are still straight, if not, clean the strip up and start again. Hope this is clear to you.
#103
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Seaside, OR
Posts: 109
Hey David I can sympathize with what you've encountered. Here's what I learned/was taught - before you begin to make any cuts, hold your fabric up by the selvages. Look at the fold in the fabric - does the top layer look like it's shifted or pulled a little either left or right? If so, and you just lay the fabric down and cut your 2 or 3 inch strips, when you unfold, they will form Vs. Move the top layer of fabric a little left or right until you don't see that shift/pulled look; then cut a straight edge. From the straight edge then measure your strips and cut. There are two straight-of-the-grains - one horizontally (with the length of the cut fabric) and one vertically (selvage to selvage). It's the selvage to selvage straight-of-the-grain that is giving you problems. When it's lined up correctly, all cuts will be without the V. Fabric gets stretched on the bolt, causing the selvage to selvage to shift, hence V cuts ensue. Hope this helps.
#107
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: in the heart of the awl
Posts: 1,015
I read somewhere that if you cut one strip, then rotate the fabric and cut a strip, then rotate again, and do this until you have cut all the strips, it won't bow. I only tried it once and it seemed to work.
#108
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: North Central, NC
Posts: 2,741
Originally Posted by gal288
The fabric is not on grain, it's that simple. I have always realigned the fabric, never use it the way it comes off the bolt.
Unfold the fabric,, press out the center, hold the 2 selvages edges together, move the fabric left or right untill there is no distortion in the folded edge. There will be bumbs & bubbles in the fold when it is not straight, but as soon as the grain is aligned, the fabric will lay smooth.
I then lay it on the ironning board, press from selvage edge to fold, being sure to keep selvages together. If you get a bubble when pressing, it's still not onn grain.
Have done this method for over 40years & it works, just a little practice to learn.
Good luck
Unfold the fabric,, press out the center, hold the 2 selvages edges together, move the fabric left or right untill there is no distortion in the folded edge. There will be bumbs & bubbles in the fold when it is not straight, but as soon as the grain is aligned, the fabric will lay smooth.
I then lay it on the ironning board, press from selvage edge to fold, being sure to keep selvages together. If you get a bubble when pressing, it's still not onn grain.
Have done this method for over 40years & it works, just a little practice to learn.
Good luck
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