I found some at Walmart for $4.44/yd. Have seen cute quilts made with sashing and borders with these kind of fabric. I'm just wondering how difficult it would be to cut and sew this type of fabric so the pattern isn't skewed. Or do you just live with skewing and figure it adds to the charm of the quilt?

I shy away from checks because I am afraid I will mess them up. Maybe someone will show us how to use them in projects.

There are two types, one the checks are printed on the surface of the fabric and this leaves it wide open for crooked lines and you cannot get the checks to match up with the straight of grain of the fabric, not good for quilting, the other one is when the check is woven into the fabric and this makes it much easier to cut straight lines to the grain.
Hope this helps.

Gal

I've only used it as bias binding.

BellaBoo, love your idea of the bias binding, how neat! I have some yellow and black, now I know what to do with it!

Gal

I once used some check that was printed on and it was a bit "off" but in the scheme of things it came out fine. I cut following the lines and used it as sashing and by the time it was quilted it didn't seem to matter that the sashing was a bit off grain.

That said make sure it is not off by a lot! Cut a small piece or strip and look at it good. Might even wash it and see how it hangs when washed and dryed. :-D

I shy away from checks. They are just to hard to work with.

Starch Starch Starch! I made some garage curtains and they almost sent me over the edge. Starch helped a lot.

I just used some multicolored checked (large) for a pillowcase. Even though I was very careful straightening the fabric, making sure everything lined up, it still was askew. Ok on a pillowcase for a kid, but maybe stick to it in the binding where it won't matter.

When using checks, I fussy cut to make sure the cuts are straight with the checks. It may get off grain a little, but it hasn't been enough to be a problem. My goal is for the checks to be straight.

I like to make it wonky on purpose. That takes the pressure off being perfect. But I have to be careful with checks. Some can make me dizzy,

I saw a picture of appliqued fruit on background squares of black and white checks. Each block was one pear, apple, etc with the leaves. Thought they were really nice. Because you put a border around each block, won't have to match up anything.
Carol B

I purchased some of the black and white checkered print fabric several years ago. I used it to back a twin quilt for my race fan. Afterward the the left over fabric I used to make a large roll pillow that is used at the top of the bed.
It has held up rather well.

I have some good black & white check fabric that isn't wonky; haven't used it yet, But I think yours would be cute to applique on it with primitive style designs, nothing complicated and let the wonky just happen. Sash with complimenting solid colors and just sail away with it. I love creating as I go along. We are artists aren't we?

Thank you, ladies! With all these great ideas, I can now justify to myself buying that checkerboard fabric!