I'm hoping all you brilliant people will have a solution for me. DD asked me to do up a quick baby panel quilt for a co-worker's shower. I was ready to sandwich it, when I noticed how very un-square it was. The fabric has a huge bow to one side--I'm sure from the way it was wrapped on the bolt. At the moment, it is taped down and squared on my hardwood floor. I'm wondering if leaving it there for a few days will solve the problem or if maybe I should spray it with water too. Argh!! And this was supposed to be a quick easy little project for me!

Spray it...

I say the same....spray it (or starch it and MAKE it square!!!

When I get panels that need squaring, I draw lines on my homemade ironing board cover, soak the back of the panel with starch or Best Press, pin the panel to the board using the lines to square it all up and let it dry on the board.

I use a lot of pins and I don't pull anything *tight,* just smooth and even.

Take the pins out and press and measure to make sure that you have it even. If not, you can re-do it until it's square and ready to cut.

Some of my lines are drawn with a Sharpie - which apparently wasn't a good idea because the Sharpie bled into a pale grey fabric that was soaked with starch, the other day. But, usually I use Frixion pens to mark the board.

Okay, on my way to spray it. Thank goodness my hardwood is sealed because it took me half an hour to square that puppy up and I really DO NOT want to move it to another floor. Unfortunately, I don't have a table big enough. Thank you so so much for your quick responses!

Try hand washing in cold water and mild detergent. Dry on low heat in your dryer and it should straighten a lot.

Wash it it in hot water and a hot dryer .... that way you know the worse case scenario. And then decide if it's worth trying to rehabilitate it, or if it's better to chalk it up to experience and say ...... NEXT!!!

Before "blocking" it .... have someone help you and gently tug on the opposite corners to help stretch it towards square. Then do your blocking process and let dry. I'd pin it to a carpet or something fabric, to help with the moisture. Not the a bare floor!

Dang thing had already been washed and dried. It has a bow right in the middle of the long sides. I dampened it with a spray bottle and boy, did the fabric relax. I then remeasured my square and readjusted just a bit. I really think this may do the trick. Guess I'll find out tomorrow. Thanks again everyone.

My concern in all this is what will happen after the quilt is done and they try to wash it? Will it go "wonky" again... I would feel real bad if that was the case. My thought was to put a border on it and then square it up with the border.

I don' t know if i'd spray it with water on your floor. but yes, getting it wet and 'blocking" it will work.
after putting it in your quilt, do some cross hatching or echo quilting in the panel to help stabilize it to maintain the correct shape.