Gramma B

I was feeling so good about this material; I had purchased from thrift store for $3, and got 6 yards of material.
I wanted to use it for backing for a crib quilt. I pulled the thread on one end and just couldn't get it to lay flat; so pulled the threads from the other end thinking it would correct itself. NO, No NO. By ths time I'm getting frustrated with my purchase, so cut off the selvages on both sides by tearing. Well got the fabric to lay flat finally; but the width grain is still off! Go figure! I've never ran into this type of problem before and I've been sewing since I was 9 (learned in 4-H, and my mother, of course). If I cut it straight across, will it wear goofy?

irishrose

I should be fine once it's quilted. The quilting will keep it in place when it's washed. Did you wash the fabric before trying to straighten it?

Gramma B

Yes, I always wash all my fabrics, no matter where I get them from.

NJ Quilter

I agree, should be fine once quilted. Get as close as you can to straight of grain and go from there. Quilting will definitely stabilize the project.

Barb44

Have you tried pulling it on the bias to straighten it? That's what I've always done and it works. You will have to pull several places all done the piece, but it should straighten that way. Back in the day when cottons were only 36 inches wide, every piece had to be straightened. Cottons are much better today than they were then.

cjsparks

When my grandaughter started sewing in 4-H, they taught a method of straightening fabric that I had never seen and I have sewed for over 45 years.

Take and pull a thread at both cut ends. Cut along the pulled threads. Fold the fabric in half so the selvages meet. Pin along the cut edges... matching the edgeds.... and along the selvage edges. Don't worry if the fabric is skewed. Machine baste along the 3 sides. Wash the fabric and dry. When the fabric came out of the dryer, it laid flat.

Gramma B

I never heard of that one. I will definately try it!