Tips for Finding the Straight Grain in Fabrics 

A few times when in a fabric store, I tell the people cutting the fabric that I want it torn and not cut because of the straight of grain. They think I am nuts and don't know what I am talking about. I rally don't think these people know anything about fabric. They should not be working there. I learned to rip my fabric when i learned to sew at Singers back in the 60's. Thank you for proving me right.

Awesome , I bought 5 metre cotton fabric, prewashed, then disaster, (at 63 new to sewing) I have been battling to align. This was the most valuable time spent which Videos on You Tube, you got me I don’t want to miss another one of your tips. Thank you. ❤️

This is the first video that I have seen that really helps me to understand finding grainline. Thank you so much!

By far the best ways to find the straight of grain. The way I learned 50+ years ago.

Yay! Found someone doing a great demo on grainline and straightening method. I learned this in beginner sewing lessons in 4-H many years ago. It is especially important for garment sewing and I have never understood why quilters resist. I'm on the cusp of starting to quilt and I personally want my strips/squares/rectangles to be on the grainline as much as possible to minimize distortion in the finished blocks; thus a more true quilt in the end which will hang or lie more flat. My mom was my go-to anchor on the kitty-corner pull for long yardages but, at nearly 102 years old, she no longer has the strength if a piece is severely off grain. Consequently DH has begun to be initiated into the world of fabric manipulation ;) Hah! I'm a "ripper" but some fabric doesn't rip nicely, like you said. I am one that doesn't mind the time it takes to pull a thread (which can be tedious) because I know the end result will be a more perfect project.

Your second method of finding the straight of grain was exactly how I was taught in my college Home Economics sewing class. Wonderful to see both methods.

Thank you for the valuable information without a bunch of useless talk. Some of these teaching videos have way too much talking in them. It takes 30 minutes to get to the point and most people don't have that much time. At least I don't, so I really appreciate your no-nonsense approach. You're a great teacher! Thank you!

In Dominican Republic they barely use scissors to cut the fabric at the stores, they always tear them apart like this.

Haven't seen grain of fabric addressed by many quilters. Thank you.

Thank you 🙏 it’s been many years since I last sewed anything. It’s amazing how much you forget. Lucky it doesn’t take much to jog your memory. Thank you again. Also I Ike your keep it simple & No waffling 😂

This is the best way I've seen to straighten up bad fabric cuts. Thank you so much for sharing. 😊🌹

OMG OMG OMG you have helped me soooo much. I now have two easier methods to straighten fabrics

The best video on this subject I've seen! Succinct and to the point, yet intormative. :)

This was so helpful, thank you so much!

Thank you for this most helpful tip. I have puzzled over a long length of material , trying to get it even. This is so simple and in future I won't need to worry how to do it. Many thanks.

thank you so much for your video. I just cut really nice 100% linen fabric for tea towels....could not get them straight no matter what I did. This tip means a lot to me as I have 3 left to sew, so now I can do a better job.

Simple but brilliant.

Fabulous information.

Wow I never knew this, at least I haven’t seen it down this way. Thank you

Hello and thank you so much for this very informative video. It has helped me so much and I have learned a lot. Best wishes Ann

Thank you for explaining that. I know several people who tear their fabric but I wasn’t sure why nor how it was helpful.

before watching this one, I watched many others but I liked this one the best as fabric was smaller size (demo) so it was easier to see how warped fabric was fixed; & it gave two how to fix in less than 5 mins so that was great. Thanks!

I keep telling them this at the fabric store and it falls on deaf ears. You'd figure with all the money JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby make they can spare a few inches! My biggest pet peave since I started sewing. Thank you for making this easier as I've tried pulling a thread and it's very frustrating. Sad that we have to pay for fabric that goes to waste though. Thanks again!

What an excellent tutorial. Thank you for this.

Thank you so much for sharing this! Now I know!

Good n helpful tips. Thanks

This helps a lot. Thanks.

Thanks for those great tips. I never think to tear the fabric like that. Next time i encounter that issue I'll tear!!

Very helpful. Thank you!

Thanks. I needed this visual help.

Very helpful. Thank you 🙏

Very helpful! Thanks so much!

Excellent. Thank you 👌😃

Thanks a lot for your very explanations ! I have watched this tutorial in the past and needed to look at it again use to be sure. 😎🌸

Thank You very much !

Great lesson! Thank you!

I'm a thread puller. So much better to start out with squared fabric. I make the stores tear both ends if they aren't perfect.

Very helpful.

Thanks a lot to made my day !!

Wow, thanks!

Thanks!

Awesome

This saved me! Thank you!

Great video. Helps alot

Thanks for this video! I do tear my fabric but was still having problems evening things up. Stretching corner to corner helps! I forget to buy extra fabric to account for yardage loss after tearing. GOOD reminder. Do you wash your fabric before you tear it? The tearing actually stretches out the fabric in the corners! I am having some difficulty evening up the corners even after stretching from corner to corner as shown in video. Any advice on how to avoid stretching while tearing?? Thank you so uch for your very clear video!!

Thank you very much! 😎

I have found that tearing some fabrics end up stretching the edges which then throw it all off the straight.

I always thought one should tear fabric as it skews the edge that is torn. Think I'll try the thread method instead.

okay this is cool.

I have been told to keep the fold of fabric next to my tummy and the selvage ( that white strip) to the top. I am making my own 5x5 charms and 8x8 squares for quilting so do I cut from the fold up or do I turn the fabric so that the selvage is either facing left or right side of me then cut on some of my fabric there is no white line because of buying a yardsales so I have been cutting where there is less pull I am doing this correct

Do you this even for baby blankets and crafts…

Does tearing the fabric not distort the edge?

No, that’s the cross grain that you’re cutting. The straight grain or vertical grain follows the selvage edge on the roll of fabric. It’s really important for dressmaking that you know which one is the straight grain!

I recently learned to tear the fabric but have noticed that some fabric gets really wavy. Is there a way to avoid this

what about a knit fabric ??

Thanks, does this work with scraps too?

ya i found your video cause "be sure to get your grains" theme

Can you do this method on any fabric?

Can you do this with brocade?

I’ve torn the fabric like you suggested and it still hasn’t straightened:(

Ive pulled the string before and it was still off!

What if the fabric is flannel?

Just tried it with my 100% cotton fabric and ended up just tearing chunks out of it. Could not get it to tear no matter what I did. Fabric is brand new and washed. :-(

You can’t do method this with all fabrics. Ie furnishing fabrics

This is so wrong! You only pull one way to get it straight. If you pull it both ways, you simply pull it back out of grain!

I don't get it... Can't you just use the scissors to cut and square it? Sorry, newbie over here

I am a beginner and you lost me.especially when I just watched one where they just joined the selvages and squared that off.