I know this has been discussed before, but I think I have a very good example for why I think tearing is a better option. I bought this fabric, brought it home and washed and ironed it. When I squared up the fabric to wrap around my ruler to store it, I found that it had been wrapped terribly off-grain on the bolt. It wasn't the quilt shop's fault. But I will lose several inches because of the bad wrapping at the factory.

Oh bummer :(

I don't know of any stores that will tear around here.

thanks for taking the time to post your example. sorry that you had to get such a bad piece of fabric. i hope that you can salvage some.

When making quilts I will tear strips if from the selvage edge, but will cut if i need it from width of the fabric.

I'm new to quilting but not to sewing and I totally believe tearing is the way to go for getting fabric straight on grain. I wish the stores would tear it here but they won't. I'd rather tear it then cut off the ends.

You can also "pull" a thread but tearing is easier.

I hate when this happens...I am a firm believer in Tearing fabric....and this is why!

I have that fabric in my stash! I'll have to check it out.

I would take it back to the store. There is no way that the fabric laid flat or the selvages matched when this piece was cut. No matter how skewed the fabric was an experience person would have squared the piece. If I see a cut like that one, I would have asked them to make a usable piece.

I always tear when I'm resizing the back of the quilt. It always tears straight (unlike my scissor skills).

Wash it first, press and then cut.