Borders

[HomespunMary]

Kadie, still don't know if I dare to follow your method (even though I always admire rebels!)...

Those of you who don't rip it, how do you do?

[gmaann]

You should ask SewGlad how many THOUSANDS of yards of fabric were ripped at the Fabric Frenzy tent at QIAD in Paducah in April!

[HomespunMary]

Yes, would have loved to see that! I'm certainly not against ripping in general - I do it a lot myself unless things have to be exact - but for cutting for instance a 3" border strip from a 3 yard length of fabric, the same way the selvage goes, I was just fearing that ripping would make the strip a bit wobbly. I just don't trust that my ripping skills are as good as Kadies

But, gmaann, did you mean to say that ripping several yards along the selvage is something that most quilters do when they want a very long continuous strip without seams..? In that case, Kadie and others, I'm really sorry if I sounded like I said something negative about your method. I really didn't mean it that that way.

[Evie]

If you have a long cutting table, and the 24" ruler, you could keep moving the ruler along. I would only cut about 18" at a time so I could line up at least 6" of the previous cut on the ruler to keep it straight. I did something similar to this when I was trimming/squaring up my son's quilt after quilting it. Or, you could rip 3 1/2" and then clean up the edges with the ruler and the rotary cutter. That's if you don't like how the fabric tears.

Also, I've found that sometimes a directional print does not always run even with the grain. If you have a pretty border/directional print, you might want to trim with the design rather than with the grain. Then be careful not to stretch. Fabric sizing or spray starch might help with that.

[gmaann]

No, I misunderstood - I have never heard of anyone (except now Kadie) who rips the fabric lengthwise.
You probably would have better luck with it laying flat if you cut the selvages off first.

[HomespunMary]

Evie and gmaann, thanks, I think I'll combine your advice! Will cut the selvage off first, then move the 24" ruler along the fabric, non-folded. The one I have in mind right now is directional, so will try to get it look straight rather than be exactly on the grain. The print seems to be following the straight grain quite closely though, so shouldn't be too much of a problem...

[cindyg]

I've been known to rip of the selvage and rip border strips lengthwise. I do better ripping than trying to cut straight for the border.

[kadie]

cindyg

I'm with you!!!

[HomespunMary]

Just bringing this to the top for SFOquilter...