with or against the grain.

[Marilynsgrammy]

I just don't get the grain stuff. I have been told that some patterns need to be cut against the grain and some with the grain. I have even seen people tear, not cut, the edge of their fabric to get a "straight edge".... I don't under stand that either..... Obviously I am new at quilting and have made a couple of them but have never thought about grain.... Does it really matter and what is it?

[lhostelley]

The following is information copied from about.com
to read the full article go to

http://quilting.about.com/od/fabricembe ... _grain.htm


The term fabric grain refers to the way threads are arranged in a piece of fabric. Grain is one of those quilting topics that you might not think is important, but the way you cut your quilting patches in relation to the grain can produce quilt blocks that are accurate and easy to assemble--or blocks that just won't do what you want them to do.
Straight Grain Cuts
Straight grain patches, fabric pieces with edges cut parallel to either straight grain, are less likely to stretch out of shape than pieces with edges cut along the bias, because the interwoven threads give their cut edges extra support.
Cuts along the lengthwise grain are less stretchy than crosswise grain cuts:


I do hope this helps.
Linda

[ShellyGSC]

Thank you Marilynsgrammy for asking that question!
We were just discussing that at our quilting club meeting on Wednesday night.
I don't get it either.
You would think with modern textile making that there would be advances in the technology of weaving cloth so that it would no longer be an issue!
And such a waste of material - too expensive for me!
I just make my quilts and enjoy them and it is not as if I am going to put them in a show. Family members wouldn't know the difference either - they just love their quilts!
-Shelly

[Evie]

Cutting at a diagonal when making binding helps it to curve around scalloped edges. Cutting borders with the grain will help keep them flat and not warped.

I think it was qltsbme who posted a picture of a quilt that a customer wanted her to quilt on her long arm and the borders were way too fluffy to quilt!

If you pull too hard on fabric while piecing it and it's not cut on the grain, it will stretch and then pucker. You have to be real careful piecing triangles together. That's why I like QIAD's method of placing two squares, right sides together, and drawing a diagonal line on one side and sewing with a 1/4" seam allowance on either side of the triangle. Then cut along the drawn line, press open towards the dark side and square up. You wind up with two units instead of one, but they are perfect and not warped.

Some people like to spray starch their fabric when they are working a lot against the grain.

It's also easier to work against the grain when doing curved piecing. Just be careful not to pull too hard. Drunkards Path/Old Maid's Puzzle comes to mind for curved piecing.

I hope this helps, if not, keep asking questions. For every question asked, there's probably 10 people who want to know the answers also!

[cindyg]

Ditto Ihostelley & Evie. For half-square triangles I use either El's method or Thangles so that I do not have to work with the bias edge. The only time I like bias is to make binding or stems for applique that need to curve.

Cindy

[quiltwithmom]

For the most part I agree with Shelly. I just make my quilts. IF I am making up my own pattern I try to be careful that it doesn't stretch when cutting and sewing. I don't want a quilt to stretch out of shape. I most always follow a pattern and I am sure that the way it is cut is fine. My family would know the difference. I have been sewing clothes for over 50 years and when a pattern says, lay out and cut on the grain I do.

[calicopuzzle]

Ihostelley--Bravo! Good explaination. Fabric grain is important and El says in one of her books that she suggests tearing a strip on the crossgrain (from salvage to salvage) so that you can get the straight of the fabric...then press the torn edge and rotary cut it very evenly off...then you can continue to rotary cut your strips. Sometimes if the grain is really crooked, you will lose some of your fabric...but it makes for a nicer finished quilt block.

[CaroleJ]

Just my own fat eighth here...for the novices and new quilters among us, if you hold fabric up to the light, you'll see threads running in both directions, at a 90 degree angle. This is what's known as the "grain" of the fabric.

Cutting and sewing on the straight grain (or at least close to it--wink, wink) means having an easier time of it: you don't wind up struggling with crooked strips or crooked blocks. The pieces seem to fit together nearly on their own. (Okay, maybe this is just my experience...) Also, over time, quilts are stronger and hold up better if they are cut and sewn with the grain. (With garments, pieces cut off-grain generally do not hang properly and often will twist and distort with laundering.)

We all make quilts for different reasons, and we all have our own little quirks and opinions---c'mon, just admit it--lol! If a point of construction matters to you, then go along with that...if not...well, there are no quilt police, and the most important thing to do is to have fun and use quilting to bring joy into your life, and to the recipients of your creativity and time.

Carole

[ShellyGSC]

WoW! I've learned alot from this discussion and will share this with my quilt club when we meet in November. We are doing El's Flying Geese and the more experienced quilters are doing the companion book: Wild Goose Chase and this question came up at the meeting.

Alot of good & wise points were made by experienced quilters. I agree - the more questions we ask - the better off we are because we are still learning!

I will try to see the grain like CaroleJ mentioned and do a small baby quilt to "see the difference".

Next year we will do the Irish Chain QIAD and believe you me - I'll be asking questions!

I really enjoy these Fabric discussions!
-Shelly

[may]

what I would like to know is; do you tear a strip off each cut of fabric befor you begin to cut for your progect.