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Ask Alex: Grain Line Tips

Here are a couple tips for determining the grain line on fabrics.

Simply Quilts : Episode QLT-1127 -- More Projects »
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For quilts tops that are light on top avoid a dark fabric backing and use a light fabric backing.
Quilting expert Alex Anderson answers a viewer's letter regarding piecing quilt backs with fabric scraps. "When piecing the back out of large chunks of scraps, does it matter which way the grain line goes? Would it be better to have everything being pieced to the straight of grain?"

When piecing your quilt backs, quilting expert Alex Anderson recommends keeping with the straight of grain for strength. The bias has lots of pull and is not recommended for the edge of your quilt backing.


To figure out the straight of grain on a fabric with no selvage edge, simply give the fabric a little pull.
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If it is cut on the grain line, the give will be minimal.
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If it is cut on the bias, the edge will bend noticeably.
Also in this Episode
Simply Quilts : Episode QLT-1127
•Cosmic Spirals
•Ask Alex: Grain Line Tips
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