I just finished up the top of my third bargello and when I hung it on the desiign wall, I noticed that it's a little bowed. I was overly cautious with the individual strips and I've never had this on the other two bargellos I've made but this one is bowed. I've tried stretching it and it stretches to the right position. I think it's because it's a smaller bargello (sort of like a postage stamp quilt). How can I fix it? I've thought of steam ironing it but not sure.

When I finish a wallhanging I lay it on the carpet and straighten it so it is square and I pin it to the carpet with T pins. I spray it with water so it is damp all over and then I let it dry. If it is small enough to fit on one of my foam core design board I use that instead of the floor.
Ricky Timm puts his in the washer and spins the water out and puts the quilt on the floor in the same way till it is dry. I found that my way works just as well for me and I don't have to get it quite so wet (and heavy). If you have an iron that puts out a lot of steam that sometimes works just as well.

heres what I did with my hawaiian....can you wet it thoroughly in wash machine...when it was wrung out I layed it on the floor and gently patted it until it layed completely flat....I then let it sit for 4 days while it dried completely. the middle of my hawaiian was so heavily quilted it wanted to do the "bowl" thing...it lays completely flat now on the hanger...try it

I've used the steam iron method with great success. I also know that ggquilters method will also work. Give it a try. Can you post a pic?

What a great tip. I may need to use that on the quilt I'm working on now.

Sharon Schamber has videos on how to block blocks; you can also block an entire quilt top. Basically it means wetting it (Sharon uses a lot of spray starch), pinning it in place (you would need to stretch yours and then fasten with pins), and then ironing until the starch is dry. Starch will make sure the fabric retains its shape.

If you can steam iron the areas into shape, you can use spray starch at the ironing board. Spray starch can be tricky to work with. Sharon Schamber uses a pressing cloth with it; this helps make sure you don't scorch the starch with a too-hot iron.

If you don't quilt it enough, the fabric has an opportunity to spring back to its original bow. Sufficient quilting will keep the fabric stretched to where it needs to be to lie flat.

Great! Thanks!! I've done blocking before with my knitting but I've never had to do it with a quilt before. I'll try the steam iron version first since it's faster, lol, and if that doesn't work I'll rinse it out and then pin it in place. I'm going to go take my camera upstairs to the sewing room and take a few pics. I'll post when I emerge from the room, lol.

what causes the bowing is always starting at the same end when sewing the strips together, it is important to alternate which end you start at with each new strip. when i messed up mine i wound up having to take it apart and resew the strips alternating the start end.

I read that in the front of the pattern book I bought so I made sure to alternate directions. It didn't bow at all with the other quilts I made. All I can figure is that these strips were very thin, one starting out as 3/4" before 2 (1/4") seams on either side.

OK, here's some pics. I used the steam iron method and it worked amazingly. Then I added some mitered borders. Thanks for all the help. I'm off to sandwich the layers before DH gets home. :D