I've finished up a lap quilt and am pleased with the design. I laid it out on our kitchen table it just wouldn't lay flat. The sides are wonky, not as straight as I would like. What should I do? I'm sure someone else had had this problem before. :roll:

If it's a little bit off, you may be able to starch it or block it into place. A lot depends on how far off it is and why it is off. If it was cut on the bias and stretched, it may be easier to take it off.

Before I add borders, I check to see that the top is square, and adjust it until it is. I know it's an extra step, but has saved me from a lot of headaches later on. A walking foot for long runs, like borders, help, too.

Personally, I like wonky! I'm sure your quilt is lovely.

Here's a good article on washing and blocking:

http://www.handquilter.com/html/march98tip.html

:-)

I agree w/moonpi on the ironing....we can cause the distortion in our ironing in the first place....that was me and my first flannel homespun! I did re-iron and trick it back into place...and, talking to it helps too!LOL I didn't figure it out till after I had my border on too...so, after ironing...I was able to trim the edge by double folding, lining up the outside edge straight in the folding and rotary cutting the edge that wasn't straight. It was after that! Might be cheating...but, hey the guy on the racing horse would never notice...so, I was good!LOL Actually, no one has ever noticed when it is shown...my secret!

If you know you were picky in the cutting, sewing....then your culprit of this is prob that darn iron!LOLSkeat

If the quilt has borders than it's possible the borders weren't measured correctly to fit the quilt. If I don't square up the quilt top exactly with 90º corners then I have a wavy quilt.

All my sewing and quilting is "wonky" I have decided it is my trademark/specialty lol

Margie

Is the binding already on? Something I've done successfully in the past is to run a basting stitch in the ditch where the binding is attached (in the areas where it's not lying flat) then draw it up like you're gathering the fabric. Once you've eased in the ripples, re-stitch in the ditch to make it permanent. Hope that makes sense!

Those are the ones i tie or tack or do by hand lol :oops: :oops: :oops: :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

Thanks to all of you for your comments and advice. I'm very relieved to hear that I'm not the only one to get wonky quilts!

I know you're all dying to know what I did. Well, I washed it and blocked it on the floor. I used push pins starting from the center with the help of a yard square and carpenter's square pinned it down trying to get it "square". It is better but will always be my wonky quilt.

I'm taking it to my LAQ once the weather settles down. (He lives out in the country up a very steep, unpaved road and scares me to death even when it's not snowing and icey....lol) I'll post a picture then and you can all tell me what you think.

Joan :lol:

''

JOANNNNNN..........Wonky is "my signature work"... lol. Wish I had some advice to fix it...I dont. However, if anyone here needs any advice on how to get to wonky...I am the one you want to come to :)

Margie