I have a new cloth for 2010 and it will be called Magic (a cloth that will be documented over at Spirit Cloth with the new year) . Magic is an ongoing theme for me and I like to use contrast, dark and light alternating, as a visual symbolizing that idea.
...I was looking at these fabrics when i asked myself what if (?) I tear along the lines of the pattern, to isolate just one line of motif. I could get strips of alternating dark and light, strips of fabric to use like thread, for decorating and edging....I like this as an addition on to the magic black and white thread I use a lot. I think I have created a new element to work with on my new cloth.
When tearing a fabric you alwaysusually get a straight line Unless the print is not aligned with the grain of the cloth) . So that's nice. But not all fabrics tear nicely. I find fabric that is finely woven, especially cotton lawn, to give a neat effect. And then fabric can have different yarns going in different directions, tearing in one direction might work nicely and the other not. Although I don't buy them, most quilters cottons should work well. But remember when engineering a tear on a print, you might not always capture the pattern line because prints are not always true to the woven line. They can be skewed. which now has me asking what if I find some yarn dyed patterns to try this on. they will always capture the intended pattern line, because the color IS the woven line. ( there is always a scissor but I prefer the natural distress of a tear)
....and I am experimenting here with this idea.
And I will call this a fussy tear, a new generation of fussy cut.