I got a small quilt top at an auction that is not square. It has 5 inch squares set on point that have stretched at the sides. I've put a border it, but the border is ruffled. When do I cut my losses and toss this quilt top? I'm afraid to try to sandwich and quilt it because I just think it's going to be a mess.

How much do you like the top ? How big is it ?

You can try quilting it and then donating it ?

go thru and measure every block...might be that one or two might be off and you can take them out and rework them.

Call me crazy, but I had this problem not once when I started. I used the wavy ruler to create some irregular borders, and the straight edges that I attached to the quilt I squared up with the quilt edges. I hope it helps. By the way, U can cut waves by hand just like that or use cardboard waves that U mark.

I would take the border off and "block" the top. Sharon Schamber has videos on Youtube for doing this. Basically she spray starches the fabric and then steams it to shrink it into shape. When you add the borders, be sure to measure through the middle of the quilt first and cut the border to that measurement; pin centers and edges first, then pin in-between, before sewing on the border. Sew with the border on top so the feed dogs can help "shrink" the edge to the border.

Is it really wavy? I just had a thought, maybe you could do a couple of running stitches on all of the edges and gather the outer edge. Make it part of your design. Then your border would be shirred. Make it a design choice instead of a wavy edge!

can you post a picture?

we can make better suggestions if we know what you/we are trying to accomplish -

I like the idea of taking off the border and blocking the top. I think you will be much happier with the end results :D:D:D

I think my hesitation in blocking the top and then reapplying the borders is that I don't want to spend that much time and energy on this one. The seams are all irregular and I had a nightmare just pressing the seams in a coherent direction. I'll post a picture later.
LOis

They why bother?

Put it in a give-away bag and let someone else deal with it -