Help me please - corner is curling up
06-29-2020, 01:07 AM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,111
Help me please - corner is curling up
Hello
I have been working on a tshirt quilt and yesterday I got the binding on and called it complete. Then when I got it out of the dryer I noticed that the corner is curling up. I have never had this problem before (at least not that I noticed)
I have some ideas on what might fix this, but I don't want to do anything and not solve the problem.
The length is the same on either edge.... down the middle the length is longer. but the middle of the body of the quilt (excluding borders) is the same - at least within 1/4". The most difference that I can catch is 1" longer down the middle - - even though the outer border measures the same within 1/4"
I can pull the border even on the corner and that will lay flat - - but when I do that the top corner (on same side) will then curl up
would pulling the binding off the bottom and trimming the border help? How would I know how much to trim off?
any ideas? I always appreciate the input that I receive from this board
I have been working on a tshirt quilt and yesterday I got the binding on and called it complete. Then when I got it out of the dryer I noticed that the corner is curling up. I have never had this problem before (at least not that I noticed)
I have some ideas on what might fix this, but I don't want to do anything and not solve the problem.
The length is the same on either edge.... down the middle the length is longer. but the middle of the body of the quilt (excluding borders) is the same - at least within 1/4". The most difference that I can catch is 1" longer down the middle - - even though the outer border measures the same within 1/4"
I can pull the border even on the corner and that will lay flat - - but when I do that the top corner (on same side) will then curl up
would pulling the binding off the bottom and trimming the border help? How would I know how much to trim off?
any ideas? I always appreciate the input that I receive from this board
Last edited by meyert; 06-29-2020 at 01:21 AM.
06-29-2020, 01:52 AM
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Gainesville, Missouri
Posts: 520
First and foremost, that quilt is incredible. I've yet to do a T-Shirt quilt, it is something I would like to do for my nephew at some point in time.
That said, I'm going to follow this thread because I've never had this problem, either and I am interested in seeing what others may suggest. My gut would tell me to pull the binding off the bottom like you're thinking and maybe trimming it in the middle where that extra inch is, that might be where the problem is but I would have done the same thing and asked for advice before I did it.
Again, the quilt is incredible, fantastic job!
That said, I'm going to follow this thread because I've never had this problem, either and I am interested in seeing what others may suggest. My gut would tell me to pull the binding off the bottom like you're thinking and maybe trimming it in the middle where that extra inch is, that might be where the problem is but I would have done the same thing and asked for advice before I did it.
Again, the quilt is incredible, fantastic job!
06-29-2020, 03:22 AM
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
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I think maybe there is a bit of tension/just a bit of shortness in the back/binding, but oh my goodness, with it so slight in this case, it isn't anything I would bother with myself.
If it is going to be on a wall and that corner is going to be right at your eye and if it really really bugs you, you might try taking out that last 12-18" of the back side of the binding and see if you can't adjust it back out. If that doesn't do it, next step would be to completely remove the binding about 1 foot from either side of the corner and try resetting. Sometimes though our fixes create bigger problems and I would count it as sealed and done!
If it is going to be on a wall and that corner is going to be right at your eye and if it really really bugs you, you might try taking out that last 12-18" of the back side of the binding and see if you can't adjust it back out. If that doesn't do it, next step would be to completely remove the binding about 1 foot from either side of the corner and try resetting. Sometimes though our fixes create bigger problems and I would count it as sealed and done!
06-29-2020, 03:48 AM
#5
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,497
Is the quilting in the borders not the same as what we can see on the Pirates shirt?
One option would be to dampen it down and use T-pins to block it out on carpet, or on a drop cloth on the lawn, that is what many people do for show quilts.
Another original problem might have been border and backing that weren't prewashed and shrank?
It does appear that corner is shorter, but as above, unless it is a wall quilt no one will ever notice or care.
One option would be to dampen it down and use T-pins to block it out on carpet, or on a drop cloth on the lawn, that is what many people do for show quilts.
Another original problem might have been border and backing that weren't prewashed and shrank?
It does appear that corner is shorter, but as above, unless it is a wall quilt no one will ever notice or care.
06-29-2020, 05:02 AM
#6
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Great T shirt quilt! When I wash a quilt, I wash, remove from dryer while still damp and then I block it until dry. Alex Anderson did a chat on the daily blog a couple of days ago on how to fix bleeding and block a quilt on The Quilt Show site. It might be that the binding is a tad tight on that corner but I would damp and block first before doing anything else.
06-29-2020, 05:22 AM
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
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Thank you everyone for your replies and kind words. You have given me something to think about. I don't want to create more problems for myself. I may not worry about it either it this wasn't for a customer.
The binding was a moda jelly roll. I don't prewash jelly rolls and I would think Moda would be good fabric
the quilting is the same all over - so yes the border is quilted the same as in the pirate block
Now I am thinking......
The binding was a moda jelly roll. I don't prewash jelly rolls and I would think Moda would be good fabric
the quilting is the same all over - so yes the border is quilted the same as in the pirate block
Now I am thinking......
06-29-2020, 06:04 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
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This is a great tshirt quilt. I would leave it just as it is. You have done an excellent job on the quilting and taking off the binding and trying to trim may disrupt the entire flow of the quilt. I agree it should not be noticeable when it is on a bed our in use. Noticeable only to your eye.
06-29-2020, 01:06 PM
#9
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: North east
Posts: 360
Before you added the binding and while squaring up the corners, did you measure the border to make sure it was consistent in width all around. Sometime a slight variation in seam allowance can change the witdth requiring adjustment.
I encounter this occasionally when binding Quilts Of Valor which are quilted by different people.
I encounter this occasionally when binding Quilts Of Valor which are quilted by different people.
06-29-2020, 01:23 PM
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,546
How often will the quilt be hanging on the wall for you to step back & view? If it were my quilt I would tell myself "well done" & use it & enjoy it. If you made it for someone else, I would not point out the fact that the corner curls up slightly when hanging on a wall. I'm sure the person who receives it will dearly love it just as it is.
