My fabric is about to pucker - what to do?
 

I've obviously been handling my daughter's quilt too much, pushing and pulling it through the throat of my domestic sewing machine.
As I started it several years ago (I know!), I didn't leave pins in it but have now found that the final block in the middle of the quilt has stretched a bit. I am in danger of quilting in some puckers unless I find a way to 'shrink' the fabric a bit. It measures about 15½” x 12”.
As it was a kit, I didn't wash the fabric so this might work to my advantage ... ? My quilt pattern is 'only' straight lines so, once I get the extra fabric out of the way, I can race to the finish! It says here.

Can you use pins and distribute the excess evenly throughout the whole block?

Try starching and steaming. That usually gets some excess fabric to draw up.

Yep, I think starch an steam would do it. Lay it out on the carpet where you can steam over a large section without having to move it on the iron board.

i was thinking the same but using thread basting

I just saw an article today on FB about this same problem. She spritzed the area, then dried with hot hairdryer.

I too would suggest this .

I learned this lesson too. I always start quilting in the middle of the quilt first now.