barrelracer86

I put this on the frame last weekend and it was square when I started, now that I have quilted almost the entire length of the quilt, it is almost 3" shorter in the center than the edges are. I also have lots of "slack" in the side borders. I have only quilted the top sashing and the center section of the quilt. How do I get it a little more square? Do I need to remove those borders that are not quilted yet and re-attach them?
Thanks, Amy

Rose L

Before I would remove anything I would try to unroll it and then re-roll it. In the picture it looks like the sides are pretty slack. Roll a little, smooth everything all the way across, then roll a little more. Try to get the horizontal lines in the quilt to stay even with the take up bar as you go. Some people stitch across the the very top of the quilt (in the first 1/4" of space) and then down each side before they begin to try to prevent this. You have to be very careful to roll all the layers evenly as you go. Make sure the edges of the layers are staying even as you go along. It's very easy to stretch out a quilt top, especially if there are bias cuts in the patchwork. Hope this is helpful to you. Maybe someone else will come along with some other better tips for you. Good Luck!

barrelracer86

There are no bias cuts in the fabric, all 3" strips. I did sew them at a 45 degree angle at each end. It was too little for my bed so I just started adding 6" strips around the outside until it was the size I wanted.

wraez

yikes, one of the reasons I'm afraid to try a long arm.

I'm sure one of the professionals here will give great advice.

QuiltnNan

if you have not quilted the borders yet, the sides will be more slack than the quilted middle. quilting takes up fabric length/width. when you turn the quilt to do the borders, some of that slack will tighten up.

leggz48

My first question is: How did you measure for the added borders? Did you measure the center and add that length of border? It appears that you have too much border and if both added borders were not measured at the center, then that is the culprit. It that's the case, I would take the quilt out of the frame, resize and reattach the borders and start quilting again. I know that's not what you want to hear. But if your borders were measured correctly, it must be a bias issue. Then, you're challenged with 'making it work'.

I just finished quilting a small throw that had some bias cuts in it and it was wavy all the way to the end. I just kept maneuvering the fabric until I got to the end. About midway, I had to "ease" it into place so I wouldn't have too much gathered at the end. I don't like bias cuts!

Good Luck with your finished product. I like the B&W contrast.

leggz48

P.S. I re-read your posts, and I am almost sure your problem is the border measuremen. If my border explanation doesn't make sense, PM me and I'll try to make it clearer with maybe a link. I learned this the hard way and it's been one of the best lessons in my quilt making. Best to you!

sewwhat85

if you have not quilted the side borders as you went that could be the reason

Glassquilt

Quilting the left & right sections should even things out.

lindy-2

it sounds like the slack is because you havent quilted the borders yet quilt them in a tite (close quilting) pattern and that should take up the slack. tha closer together your quilting lines are the more fabric you take up a large quilt can shrink a few inches just by quilting it.