How to cut fabric straight, square and on grain.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- this tutorial will explain what it means to cut fabric on grain and shows the easiest and most effective way to cut fabric on grain.
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Quick, straight to the point and no irritating music that drown out your voice: fabulous! Thank you. You have a new subscriber.
Wow. Thank you so much Kerry!
Definitely I loved this video as well
This is how I learned to determine the straight of grain and that was in 1974 in my home economic class. I was also taught to wash and iron prior to sewing. I’m so glad to see someone younger than me teaching this method.
Thank you for commenting Mary! I learned from my mom.
This is how I learned in my sewing class in high school, as well! 🤗
I've learnt this from my mum❤️
Thank you. It's been 40 years of not sewing properly. Now being retired I want to start up again. That was a great tutorial. Cant wait to start sewing.
Yay! that's awesome Eszter! It's so nice you have time to sew now! I just started doing workshops ...sign up for my email list and I'll send you the info. when I have them... mailchi.mp/913c3e1b4a4b/stay-updated-on-workshops-and-courses
As I watched this video, I found myself saying out loud, "yep, that's how our great, great grandmothers did it. Taught by THEIR grandmothers, and so on and so forth."
Very helpful video, thank you!
Love that!
Truly, this is one of the most informative tutorials I've seen.
I'm an intermediate beginner & had learned that the diagonal stretchy was the bias & the grain was the less stretch & defined by the selvage.
Your thread method is much more precise to determine the grain.
Thank you!
Thank you for educating me on basic things I should know before cutting our materials. Very helpful for others who are learning as well. I’ve learned how to sew in my early twenty, but nothing in depth. In fact, I’ve gotten out of touch for 20 years. I recently started again, and I’m still learning as I go because I love making things.
yw. Oh I've been sewing now professionally for a number of years and I still have so much to learn. It's a lifetime process and so much fun!!!
Hi there! I heard about, and even read about this method of pulling a thread, but had never seen anyone demonstrate it. Without the visual reinforcement you just showed me, I would never have known how easy it is to find that straight line. Thank you so much, my new linens will be that much nicer now.
so glad this was helpful! overtime I'm in a hurry and don't pull a thread I regret it. Thank you for commenting!
Great illustration of long and cross grains. As for "patterned" fabric, the plaid you showed was a "thread-dyed" fabric and, following a line on the fabric works, as illustrated, to cut the cross-grain. However, most patterned fabrics are "Prints"...solid color.woven fabric that is stamped with the print / design....the front and back look very different. Unfortunately, most aren't stamped exactly on-grain, therefore, following the pattern when cutting won't usually give a perfect cross-grain cut. With more finely woven fabrics (quilting or blouse cottons), ripping is the most efficient way to make the initial cut.....it can only rip on the cross grain.
sosusan8 very true about poorly printed fabric! And yes, with finely woven fabric ripping is effective.
I have some fabric that will NOT rip. I found it so odd.
I'm not an experienced sewer (am about to attempt to make myself a pair of shorts on a mchine my husband decided to buy me some years ago but has hardly been used) and before embarking on my project have been doing some reading and watching videos on sewing, looking for tips and so on and though I'd heard the term "grain" in reference to sewing really didn't know exactly what that was so thought it could be helpful to find out. Well, it was in watching your video of the explanation and showing how to square fabric otherwise I wouldn't have known to do this and who knows how my project would come out. So thank you for your help in clearing up this term and procedure.
Thank you Dianne.
Thank you. very helpful, easy to watch and not too long of video.
Thank you so much Bianca!
Yes thank u for making such a easy informative none boring video, I mean really sincerely thank uuuuuuuuu
you're so welcome! thanks for the nice comment...and saying it's not boring...I have a very serious personality and bore myself at times. ;)
Great explanation TY
Thanks Dolores! Thanks for commenting!
Thank you so much for this info! I've watch numerous videos and searched online to find out whether you cut with or against the grain! Crazy, huh?! Thanks!
Gayla Burger you’re so welcome! It’s such an important step but it’s usually ignored and then home projects end up slightly “off” and you don’t know why. Thanks for commenting!
A NewBee Thank YOU for explaining this! Bravo Bolt-ON ! MIMZY Rocks.. . . . .
Thank you!
I was able to cut a straight edge for my placemat! Thank you.....
perfect! Thank you for commenting!!!
Been searching for an hour for this exact video - THANK YOU SO MUCH!
you're welcome!
A fantastic explanatory video. Thank you. Helps a lot.
oh good! so glad this helps.
I never knew any of this. Thanks so much for sharing!!! Fabric I buy from the store is never cut straight, and I’ve always found it impossible to fix. This is the answer!!
What if the fabric you’re using has been cut from a larger piece, and no longer has a selvedge? How do you determine the warp and we’d without that? TIA 😊
That’s a very good question. You’d have to have a very discerning eye to tell. It would be next to impossible on a solid fabric. If it’s a print, the print almost always run up the warp. But as long as your first cut is square to either the warp OR the weft, it doesn’t really matter.
Mimzy, where did you get those awesome pink glasses?
I just discovered your channel and wish I had known about you years ago. You are an inspiration! I have made many drapes for my home and even reupholstered 2 chairs…every time making learning mistakes which are painful. I’m glad I can watch your how to videos first to avoid frustration and less than ideal results. You are great!
Thank you so much Elena! I bought my frames from glassesusa.com. Pretty sure.
Ty very easy to understand n works well 😊
Thank you for taking the time to comment Dee!
Thank you, this was so informative and I learned a great deal, your a star.
you're welcome. Thank you for commenting.
Thanks Mimzy! I loved watching this video ❤️🌻
awe! Thank you! and thanks for commenting.
How do feel about ripping to set the grain? I do that on my cotton fabrics because on some of them it’s really hard to pull a thread!
I think it fine on really tightly woven fabric like duck...I just don't like how it kinda stretches the fabric next to the rip. I'll do that if I know that end will eventually be cut off , like when making slipcovers.
Yes, when I tried to do it recently I couldn't pull a thread, kept breaking and breaking and just wouldn't budge. So I had to rip. I does seem to stretch it though. Whadd'ya gonna do? Lol.
Thank you so much, I am just starting out and I have some canvas want to make a tote bag, I don't have a ruler so this is a good way for me to get a straight cut!
Sometimes canvas is difficult to pull a string since it’s such a tight weave. You might have some breakage , just pull the string next to it
Thank you for sharing this tutorial.
You're welcome! Thank you commenting. When i made this video I had no idea so many would watch it!
Extremely helpful. Thank you SO much
You’re welcome. Thanks for commenting!
Who would have thought?! Not me! Thank youuuu!
Thank you for the demonstration.
you're welcome. thank you for commenting.
Thank you for this helpful video. I have a question: once you find the "on grain" part of your fabric, is this where you place your pattern pieces or begin to cut?
Lynette Patrice it depends on what you’re making or the pattern you are using. Sometimes you cut on the bias, 45 degree angle from the selvage edge. You cut on grain to keep things straight and very little stretch. You cut on bias to have much stretch in the fabric. Bias is mostly used when you want the fabric drape like cowl neck shirt or bias cut slip dress.
Hi! This is fantastic! Wish I knew this earlier! I just bought triple weave curtain fabric, would this still work? Would I need to pull three threads out of the weft?
hmm...I'm not familiar with triple weave fabric. Is it a very tight weave or loose?
excellent
Thank you very much. Its very useful!!!
You’re welcome!
You are so helpful and sew funny 😂
Thanks Lorraine! I’m not often called funny so thanks for that!
I was cutting some fabric and I kept measuring it with the Square ruler and it just wasn't coming out square straight thank you you're such a smarty
Ha! I’ve been there.
Thanks for this video. I am just learning how to sew and my first project was "off". Now I know why. Should I wash, dry and iron my fabric before trying to pull a thread or after?
Yep, it’s happened to me many times when I thought my cut “looked” straight. I would was and dry first, then pull a thread.
@@MimzyandCompany Wonderful! Thank you so much ❤️
Thank you - so helpful!
you're welcome. Thank you for commenting.
Thank you for this. I tried to do this with a heavy denim, and it did not work. The strand broke. But at least I know how the grain is running. Any suggestions for denim? I use it a lot.
denim is tough because the threads are so soft and tightly woven. If you pull a thread about 6" into the fabric then you can use a T square to draw a line from there, making sure to square up to the selvage and the thread pull you started. good luck. What kind of stuff do you make with denim?
mimzy & company Thank you so much. I make bags with denim.
If I cut a five “ square of cotton should I square up all 4 sides with the thread pull method? So glad I watch this. I have seen others that rip.
no, it's not necessary to square each individual cut if you make sure your first cut, from selvage to selvage, is good and straight/square. The ripping method should work in theory, but it's not always precise, plus it tends to stretch the fabric at the ripped edge.
Coming to sewing as a woodworker, I was baffled by this problem. Wood is solid, so creating a straight, square line is straightforward if you know how to use the tools properly. Fabric, though, moves around and stretches and goes wonky! Thanks for this tip for cutting. I also find it hard to fold over a seam and iron it straight (along the grain). I've taken to using a metal straight edge under the iron. Is there another way? In videos, people do it by hand, but mine are never straight.
an heat safe straight edge is a great way to make hems. But I think it just takes practice. I do some very simple woodworking and it's surprising how many things are similar with woodworking and sewing as far as order of operations and such.
@@MimzyandCompanythank you for replying! I just did this trick on the pieces I've already cut out for a basic couch pillow project. I was WAY off the grain! Luckily, I transferred a woodworker's trick and cut my largest pieces first. I can always cut them smaller, but can't cut them bigger! :)
Can't wait to watch more of your videos. Thanks!
@@karenschraven8237 well that was smart!
omg thank you!!!!!!!!
you're welcome!!!
Thank you for this video! What about for a pillow?? I have seen your other video where you just use the pillow template. So do we not need to do this method for pillows?
When I make pillows I always use this method to cut my fabric then line up my pillow template on the straight grain. If not the pillow will get crooked over time particularly if it gets a lot of use.
What about stripes for quilt making? I'm not sure how to lay down my material to start cutting.
hmmm. no matter what start the first cut straight and square.
Thanks!
Yw
Thabks for your drapery videos. I squared my face fabric and got it on grain. Now I'm doing my lining fabric. I pulled the thread across. I then measured down from each side for my cut length. And if I mark a line across, it is way crooked. I triple checked my measurements. I even drew out another thread, just in case i did something wrong. Im not sure what to do.
huh...it's the lining fabric that's off? usually the lining is easy to get square since it's a pretty tight weave. weird.
@@MimzyandCompany yep, the lining. I'm at my wit's end. My husband and I have been scratching our heads trying to figure what's wrong.
@@ellenolson188 sometimes the grain just gets askew. Maybe try pulling the fabric from corner to corner(on the bias) to straighten out the threads. When you hold the fabric up the light does it look like the threads are askew? You could wash the fabric and sometimes that will "realign" things. That's annoying.
I have 16 yards of fabric. So can't wash it! But another fabric person has suggested that I have a twill fabric and that the thread pull can be less successful. So to just fold down along the length and cut across.
@@ellenolson188 good idea!
Thank you so much✂️❣️🌷
You are so welcome! Thanks for the comment
Hi there, thank you for your informative video - a question though please - how do I make sure I cut curtain fabric that already had blackout incorporated in it, square? Thankyou and greetings from Australia
Blackout fabric doesn't work for this method. You could use this method on the face fabric and then follow that line on your blackout fabric. OR use a Tsquare or and Lsquare on the blackout.
@@MimzyandCompany Thank you so much for your kind reply
What about fabric where the warp and weft threads are not at a perfect 90 degrees to each other?
washing can reset the grain. and you can manual manipulate the fabric by pulling it on the bias to kinda straighten it out a bit.
Lynette...it all depends upon the pattern instructions. But yes, if the pattern calls for a single layer piece that needs to be on the straight grain , yes.
Thank you soooo much❤
Yw! Thanks for the comment.
How does this work if you are using fanric where you are fitting lots of pattern pieces onto it ? Sounds a bit complicated for dress making ?
This is only the first step to any sewing project so that you are sure that you're cutting with the grain and not accidentally on the bias. When you are patterning you often fold the fabric in half selvage to selvage, if your end cut is not square then you could potentially match the selvages out of square.(that is if you don't notice that the fold is creasing/puckering, which will tell you that the fabric is unsquare).
If you're only cutting your pattern out of one layer of fabric then you can just make sure your patterns are parallel to the selvage and all is well.
Does that answer your question?
Hi mimzy, why does the thread break and how can it be avoided please?
if the fabric is a tight weave it can break fairly easily... it's hard to avoid it sometimes. if you can't pull one thread from selvage to selvage then after the thread breaks pull the thread next to the broken thread.
You’re amazing. Thank you😊
Thank you! so are you!
Nice demo
Thank you Mike!
Would this work on rather tightly woven cotton, something like a bedsheet?
It should work for a bed sheet if it's cotton, but some tightly woven blends may not work...the string will break. Try it and see.
But, did you say which is called on grain, the Warp and Weft, and one is stretchy, which one is that?
The warp is the lengthwise grain and weft is the crosswise(selvage you selvage grain). The stretchiest is bias(diagonal) to the warp and weft. However the weft is usually a little stretchy while the warp generally has zero stretch.
mimzy & company Thank you!!
Gravity pulls on the threads, so legs and sleeves will twist, and skirts will hang funny, because the gravity works on the bias, which is stretchy, if the item isn't on grain.
right!
Will you address how to straighten the warp of the fabric? Stretching on the bias ? Thank you
Yes stretching on the bias and pulling it on the warp. Also washing fabric will sometimes help reset the grain.
@@MimzyandCompany thank you!!!
What about printed fabric with flowers, flower pots, or Kinte Cloth? I see the Kinte cloth stretches one way but not the way I'm cuttinf for facial masks. Should I cut the masks on the grain, also? Thanks in advance!
for masks it won't make much difference because if the fabric stretches any which way it won't matter a whole lot. just cut it however you want the flower pattern to be placed on the mask.
@@MimzyandCompany Thanks!
What if when I got the fabric it was cut off grain (of course) but it’s like a whole slanted line and when I rip it the grain is still slanted or when I pull a thread it’s still slanted. The fabric I’m talking about is a poly cotton blend. I ripped my cotton fabric and it was so easy to do and fix the grain, but when it comes to my poly cotton blend it’s a little bit tougher to rip and it’s harder for me to fix the grain because it’s slanted still. So I just end up using a ruler and drawing a straight line and then cutting it. Is that okay, does that still work?
Yes, that still works. Some fabrics are just looser weave or thinner threads so it gets trapezoidal when ripped. If pulling the thread doesn't work then I would fold it in half, make sure your fold line is flat(no creasing on the fold), line up the selvage edges on a straight edge(cutting mat or table) and cut the end square from there.
@@MimzyandCompany thank you so much for this! You’ve helped me so much with this comment! 🙏🏽
if you don’t mind me asking, by “no creasing on the fold” does that mean the fold has to be flat as if it were ironed instead of just folding it and then leaving the fold how it typically is like a bit open (if that makes sense)?
How about blackout lining? It’s a bit like vinyl? Thanks!
nope, wont work. I'd fold the blackout in half and just make sure there's not creases on the fold then you know it's square. Then cut using a T-square.
Do you do that or say a fat quarter.....patterned or unpatterned?
A fat quarter SHOULD be square already.
@@MimzyandCompany Maybe it they would be if I afforded 'Moda' or other high end cotton fabric but I pick mime up at Hobby Lobby or Joanns....my budget. Thank you
You can also snip and tear.
What does a person do if the fabric threads aren't woven exactly perpendicular to each other?
Cleo A if it’s woven it’ll always be perpendicular to start, but can easily get askew. Sometimes washing will straighten it out.
🙂💙💙💙💙💙💙i have bali ikat woven cotton sarongs i own 169 sarongs in my collection my sarongs are floor length on me when i wear them ...my sarong drags on the floor all around my bali cotton ikat woven sarongs
huh... I love ikat prints... i bet your sarongs are beautiful.
@@MimzyandCompany yes they are beautiful i LOVE my ikat cotton Balinese woven Sarongs i've loved sarongs ever since i was 16yo now 55yo i still love my sarongs i still have many of the ikat sarongs i bought when i was 16 still have them to this day along with many newer ikat sarongs i also have the fringe sarongs and the traditional wax batik from java i fell in love with sarongs and bali ikat when i was young its the woven cotton ikat from bali i love the most but i do love my other sarongs as well🙂💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💓💓💓 the older ikats i have not worn as much over the years in an attempt to make my much loved sarong collection last as many years as possible ..❤thanks love Scott from Australia... ty
@@scottharvey3848 that’s so fun ! Do you display them as pieces of art? Or wear them ? Or both?
@@MimzyandCompany i wear my Sarongs as a long skirt my ikat is floor length which i love on me as i am only 5ft 8 its very soft cotton to wear i LOVE it they are very comfortable on me love to wear them both at home and in public as well sometimes i'll use them as a table cloth on my living room table but for the most part i only wear my sarongs ...all my sarongs are long on me .🙂💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
@@MimzyandCompany hello its Scott harvey here again from Australia i hope you dont mind i decided to follow you on your instagram account i'm on there as well i'd love it if we could chat there more about my love of sarongs do you have any please lets chat ok love Scott harvey from Australia ikat sarong lover and wearer..🙂❤❤❤❤❤❤
I have a fabric which is rayon/stubbed satin and this does not work why is that
Yes. This only works with woven fabrics. And if your fabric is really tightly woven it will be difficult because your thread will break easily. So you have to lay out your fabric against a square table or anything square to get your first cut.
This is the best tip I've learned on youtube so far 😁 thank you for sharing this 💗
Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to comment!
How does this apply to rubber backed fabric??
can't be done....you'll have to use a square yardstick to square up you fabric.
That explains why my dog shirts where going side ways 😂
yes
Can you. Pull a thread on patterned fleece?
No, don’t think so. You can’t pull a thread on knit fabric.
Keep in mind that the woven plaid has to be square and on grain. Also printed plaid or floral fabrics may not be printed on grain, many times when you straighten the threads you discover that they are off grain. So you make an apron where it doesn't latter so much.
Yes. Absolutely right! I find printed fabric is more often than not, printed off grain.
Drinking game: drink every time she says “on grain”
🤣🤣
Toasted 5:12 in, my loom is tilled.
Your advice on following the design of a "printed" fabric is misleading. Unlike "woven" fabric, made from individually dyed threads, woven together. with a printed fabric (most quilting cottons), the design is stamped onto white fabric, and, unfortunately, is almost never printed exactly on grain.
sosusan8 yes. I agree. But that’s a whole other can of worms ...poorly printed fabric. I’ll have to do a separate video covering printed fabric. In my home decor projects it’s still generally better to follow the pattern when making drapes or a duvet cover than the grain.
I certainly understand your rationale with respect to drapery and home décor.
👍🏻🇨🇦
Thanks Joyce
So helpful, thank you!
Dinah Rodriguez you’re welcome Dinah. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks!
Cricket Cricket you’re welcome, thank you for commenting.
This was great! I loved how you showed the burlap and the hemp comparison. Also pulling the thread. Thank you so much! Just be careful if the fabric is 'printed' because the print may not be to grain as a woven design is (where the individual threads are dyed) opposed to just the surface of the fabric being printed.
Yes absolutely! I thought I touched on that briefly. Idk 😏 anyway, thanks for commenting!
Did I use way for any fabric?🇰🇼🫡🌹
Been sewing for a year now and was always frustrated because my fabric cuts weren’t straight, solved this now thanks, but what about thinner fabrics?
Not all fabrics cooperate with this method. That’s why a gridded cutting mat is very helpful. You can line up your selvage edges with the lines in the cutting mat to ensure a square cut. This is not always perfect either.
I’m using Barack oout lining. Would I still use this still apply
No , blackout lining is a synthetic material and likely won’t work . HOWEVER, I’ve never tried pulling a string on blackout lining so maybe give it a try.
this is so much helpful thank you sweetheart 🤍
you're welcome.
I'm still not entirely sure what being "on grain" is, but the demo was really helpful to get started with my project-thanks!
The more you sew the more you'll intimately realize what on-grain means. Even as I pinned the slipcover of my recent bench slip I could see the grain(weave of the threads) on the corners that I pulled too tight and caused it to be off square. It's all the tiny nuances you learn as you put in time sewing. It's fun. Anyhow, thanks for commenting!
If I’m getting this correctly May, I think it means making sure that the first cut goes perfectly along a weft thread and isn’t at an angle across several threads. Think if you draw say 5 vertical lines inside a square on a piece of paper and you want to make sure those lines stay straight… you would cut level along one of the lines wouldn’t you because if you cut at an angle across a couple of those lines, it won’t be straight anymore. That’s the way I understand it anyway. I’ve done a little weaving in the past so I can grasp the idea of cutting along one strand of the weft if that’s what this means?
You would be trying to cut on the weft thread line. AKA Crosswise grain of the fabric, hope this helps 😊
Thank you
You're welcome. Thank you for commenting.
Why don’t you press the fabric first? It’s all wrinkled.
Bahama Mama simply in a hurry to get vid done.