How do I square the end of ripstop nylon

[Rekoob]

Fold lengthways so the salvages are together, the on a large cutting board cut 90deg to salvage.

+1, this has worked for me too.

[VictoriaGuy]

Fold lengthways so the salvages are together, the on a large cutting board cut 90deg to salvage.

It's not clear whether people want the fabric to be 'square' to the weave - what a tailor or skilled sewer would mean - or just 'cut square across the end'.

To square up the fabric, you want the crosswise threads (from selvage to selvage) to be square to the selvage edges, THEN you cut along that thread line. That's why following the ripstop grid will make a cut that is square to the weave pattern. If, after doing that, your fabric end is not at 90 degrees, then you need to pull the fabric on the diagonal to get it square.

On a non-ripstop fabric, one of the the traditional methods is to 'pull a thread' to show the orientation of the weave across the fabric width. Then cut along that line and pull the fabric to square it up.

It's easier to sew and gives a more stable finished item if you are working with squared fabric, though for our work with tarps and hammock gear, it probably doesn't matter much.

[Banjoman]

It's not clear whether people want the fabric to be 'square' to the weave - what a tailor or skilled sewer would mean - or just 'cut square across the end'.

To square up the fabric, you want the crosswise threads (from selvage to selvage) to be square to the selvage edges, THEN you cut along that thread line. That's why following the ripstop grid will make a cut that is square to the weave pattern. If, after doing that, your fabric end is not at 90 degrees, then you need to pull the fabric on the diagonal to get it square.

On a non-ripstop fabric, one of the the traditional methods is to 'pull a thread' to show the orientation of the weave across the fabric width. Then cut along that line and pull the fabric to square it up.

It's easier to sew and gives a more stable finished item if you are working with squared fabric, though for our work with tarps and hammock gear, it probably doesn't matter much.

Thanks for that info!