Question about a panel
 

I haven't really worked with panels before, but a nice one caught my son's eye, and I want to make a wall hanging for him. The question I have is about how best to square it up. It's cut very accurately along the marked cut lines from selvedge to selvedge, down the sides of the design, but it's anything but square with those selvedges. So it looks more like a rhombus than a regular rectangle, if that makes sense.

I'm not sure how to handle this. I *really* don't want to cut anything off the sides in order to make them square with the selvedges (losing design, and making it way skinny), nor do I want it to have an obvious "ring" in it when it's hanging. Should I instead cut the selvedges "crooked" but making them square with the cut sides of the design? So that at least I will have a regular rectangle, but it won't be along the straight of grain at all.

Or I suppose I could just buy 2 iterations of the panel and cut it how I want, but I really don't want to have to spend the extra $$.

I hope this makes sense! Any tips would be greatly appreciated - or even reassurance that it's okay to not have the rectangle coinciding with the grain!


​​​​​​Thanks in advance!!

do you know the method of taking the 2 opposing corners (top/bottom opposite ends) and pulling it into straight? That sometimes helps it quite a bit.

depending on how crooked it is, you might have to go with it. meaning making borders or inner borders that are crooked too on purpose. go with the flow. Good luck.

I've had pretty good luck with pressing them to the shape I want.

If you need to, cut into the design a little -- just so the printed borders don't show.

I wouldn't cut off the design. If anything, I might try pulling and ironing it to get it as straight as possible, then just square it up with the printed panel on the fabric. You might have to add an extra border. Do make sure you quilt fairly closely so that the center of your wall hanging doesn't sag. If you could post a picture of the panel, we might come up with better ideas.

I found this interesting and helpful

https://youtu.be/ZGE2B5jcsms

Thanks for the link, Lisa. That YouTube had some very good tips.

Thank you so much for this video!! I did what she suggested and it worked beautifully! I'm so grateful!

Salvages are often ( skewed) I always cut off the salvaged and square my panels that way. I’ve used many panels over the years they are a great starting point for many quilts

I love your bunnies. Nice job shows the panel very nicely.

I took a class using panels and this was how she taught to square up any panel. It works great but some printed panels will lose a lot of the design if really out of square. It's easy to fold in the store before buying to find out how much you need to pull and cut before buying.

How timely!
 

I am looking forward to receiving my own Hoffman Dahlia panel early next week. It will be the center of a king-size quilt . . . a major project for a wedding present. How perfect that you shared this video link. I've bookmarked it for sure. Thanks so much.

I find that when I prewash fabric, including panels, they straighten slightly. Fabric is wound on the bolts while damp and can easily be off grain. Washing, drying and pressing help a lot. You do not have to have the print on grain. If you can cut it to a reasonable rectangle, the quilting will stabilize any off grain edges.

I like working with digital panels. I usually just square them up and work from there. Sometimes it's not as wonky as you think when you remember that you can go almost 1/4" (seam allowance) off the panel when truing them up.

Jim

That is an excellent video. I have a panel for over a year that was not square. I now know what to do!

I have had good luck with blocking. You tape two sides to something you know is a 90 degree angle-for me the corner of my cutting table. Then dampen the fabric-I just lightly spray-and gently persuade the other two sides into their proper shape. Tape down well, spray to make quite wet but not dripping, and then let dry.