with or against the grain.

[CaroleJ]

Yes, I do. That's how I find the straight grain. Once the fabric is washed and dried, I nick the selvege and tear across the width. Then I mist it and GENTLY press it flat. Before I start cutting, I trim off the fuzzy edge. Voila'...a clean edge right along the straight grain of the fabric, and no crooked strips!

Carole

[cindyg]

To add to what CaroleJ said, in "Still Stripping" El said that when you rip the fabric to get the even edges that sometimes the selvages will not line up. Don't be concerned if your selvages don't match exactly.

[Marilynsgrammy]

Thanks all.

I am going to try to rip the fabric selvage to selvage when I start on my next project......

I want to get the still strippin book but am wondering if it comes in paperback?

CarolJ..... I appreciate your fat eight and everyone elses great advice..... I'm going to try it.

[cindyg]

Marilynsgrammy - I used my 40% off coupon at JoAnn's and got the Still Stripping book for $17. I don't think they come in paperback.

[CaroleJ]

Thanks, Cindyg, for interjecting that critical point! When I made garments, I was taught to always line up the selvedge edges before pinning down the pattern pieces. Lining up the fabric across the width, and ignoring where the selvedges fall, was puzzling at first...as Yoda said, I had to "unlearn" what I had learned.

Interesting that I am a much more confident and relaxed seamstress now that I am a quilter....heck, if a seam on a Halloween costume or a tote bag is a bit off, who is ever going to know? Quilting, however, is a different matter!

Carole

[cindyg]

CaroleJ - same with me. I learned to line up the selvages. Until recently I was still folding the fabric with selvages lining up and I'd wiggle it around until the fold didn't have any waves or crinkles in it and then I'd even up the edge. It's hard to unlearn things you've done for 45 yrs. But I like learning new and easier methods and that's what ripping is for me - a new way to do it.

[Pilot2b]

Oh, Linda you are just the cat's meow. Thanks for the tip.

Sean's grandma He is adorable, i know.

[HERTA]

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, I have been making 2 table runners in the last week or two, it is called star within a star, the inside star calls for 2" corner stones, would you belive it, every time I sew those corner stones together, they just never fit correct, I never thought of the grain of fabric, I just cut a double layer to make 2 corner stones, so, from now on I will tear my fabric, then cut, what a great bunch of wonderful Lady's you are,
Thank you again for all your help.
Herta