Vicki W

OK, I did something really stupid today.

I finished handquilting a baby quilt. (Good so far)

I need to start another one and only had the binding to do. (Good)

I was going to even it off by tearing it on bias....(only the backing thank God)

It wasn't straight.

How can I fix it?

Prism99

Is it even possible to tear on the bias? I don't think so. You can tear on the straight-grain or cross-grain, but not on the bias. So I'm not sure exactly what you did. Is it just one edge of the fabric that is not straight?

dunster

I don't understand either. Calm down, take a deep breath, and explain the problem again. Someone will be able to help, quilting disasters are almost always fixable.

Vicki W

I was tearing on the grain....sorry...just upset now. Shouldn't have torn...have scissor and cutters. one side is now not wide enough...

barny

I have never tried and don't think you can tear anything on the bias. when you tear any fabric it goes to the grain. If I'm wrong, someone tell me.

Silver Needle

The fabric is probably just that far out of square. Try pulling the opposite corners and see if it will relax itself into better alignment.

mosquitosewgirl

I agree with Cheryl. But...if that doesn't work, I would cut the piece in half and use a strip of one or more of your other fabrics from the front, sewn into the middle to enlarge your piece. Then square it up and cut to size. They will think you did it on purpose to make it more interesting! Good luck!

susie-susie-susie

It sounds like you will need to add a border to make it big enough. Perhaps you can stretch it by gently pulling it corner to corner and it may relax enough to be square. Sorry this happened to you, but I think it is fixable. Let us know how it turns out.
Sue

auntpiggylpn

Not only fixable, but a way to add more creativity to your backing. Piece it as someone else suggested. I rarely use a whole piece of fabric for my backing and I never use just one fabric! I like to piece together coordinating fabrics or fabrics from the top. I will even incorporate left over blocks from the front.

Prism99

One of my favorite ways to piece a backing is to make a diagonal cut through the main fabric (not necessarily from corner to corner, just diagonal) and piece a strip of contrasting fabric in-between the cut edges. Creates a slash across the back that is quite attractive!