I'm just so frustrated right now I could just spit!

I ordered 2 panels. (to use as backs for 2 lap size quilts) I should have had them cut them apart, but I didn't. Big mistake.

Now I can't seem to get them lined up so I have the same amount of fabric on all sides to cut them apart. They don't seem to have been printed correctly on the fabric either.

The picture is in the middle and they have a beautiful frame around them. I want to keep the frame intact. I've tried to line up the frames but then the fabric does not lay flat.

How do you/have you dealt with this?

Wow, I have the same problem with some Civil War general panels I bought to include in a quilt for my brother. They are printed so close to the edge, if I used a 1/4 seam allowance, I would lose the printing. Also they are not the same size. Anyway, what I have done is to applique the panel to the fabric I was going to use as sashing. That way I was able to maintain what is important. Perhaps you can do something along that line? It also allowed me to adjust the amount of sashing to keep the blocks uniform in size.

That's not unusual - I rarely get a full panel print that lines up.

If the fabric is going to be too short, then I add a border or two to it.

Add a border.

I have to add a boarder... that is the plan. How do you get it to be straight when it's already wonky?

Starch it heavily and then pin it to the carpet, to get it to dry straight. :D:D:D

Never tried that. I'll have to next time. I've never had a panel that was straight. I just cut into it and add boarders to make it look nice. They have all been off, but I just work around it. They are fun and quick to work with.

Thanks, that's a great idea. This way I can get it squared up at the same time. Now to find a spot on the carpet where the dog and cat won't get into it???? That's going to be harder than getting it pinned to the carpet.

The panel and the boarder will be making this quilt back. It looks so nice, I'm not going to be surprised if the back gets used as the front. That's why it's kind of important to have it look straight.

This board is the greatest.