Fabric may need to be
straighten for two reasons:
When purchasing
fabric it should have been cut on a weft thread.
Once you have
selected your fabric, and used the
proper method for shrinking your fabric,
keep in mind that fabric needs
to be straightened when sewing garments. Your fabric might not be
straight most likely because it was bad cutting by the clerk, or because it could have
been "twisted" or "pulled" out of line on the bolt by the manufacturer.
Even though it may look like a straight cut to you, it most likely is not.
If the person at the cutting counter cut a little slit in your fabric and
then ripped it, then your fabric is straightened already.
Many of times when I have new
students they are curious about different aspects of sewing. But, the
number one question I get asked is "Why do designers on shows like
Project Runway rip their fabric?" Well, here's why.
To straighten woven
type of fabric, like cotton and more, snip a little cut at the selvage edge and then rip or tear
to the other end. Pull thread until one long thread goes from one
end of the salvage to the other. Also for woven fabrics you could
get a pin, find a thread near the cut end, and pull it until it is from
one end of the salvage end to the other.

To straighten cotton fabric, cut a
little slit in the fabric where the selvage edge is. |

Rip the fabric. |

Continue ripping until the strip is
done. Now your fabric is ripped on the weft thread and is straight.
Notice the strip and how the two selvage edges are uneven. This shows
how it was not cut on a weft thread. |

Fold
fabric, and you are ready to begin laying
the sewing pattern. |
To straighten corded
type fabrics use a square or ruler and set at a right angle to the selvage
edge. Mark with chalk.
To straighten jersey and knit
fabric, follow one line of stitch across the wrong side (ugly side) and
mark that line of stitching with pins. (See Photos Below)
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To straighten
jersey or knit fabric follow one line of stitching across the wrong
side of the fabric and place a pin on the line.
|

Continue placing
pins and following the same line. With some fabrics you need either
great eye site or you may need a magnifying glass to help you follow
the line. |
If your fabric is not
straight because it was "pulled" out of line on the bolt by the
manufacturer, pull the fabric diagonally (on the bias) so that the threads
are drawn into a line and the edges of the straightened end lie evenly
together.
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