Some time back someone posted a picture of a darling child's quilt that was not square. Well, I now have a Thomas and Friends panel that is not square. I didn't notice it until I trimmed around the edges. First of all one border was not cut properly, but I was able to leave enough of a border all around. I'll use the same color for binding and I think that'll solve that problem. But the right side of the panel seems curved. I WILL use the panel, but I was wondering if there would be a way to straighten the fabric without distorting the picture. Many years ago (before permanant press fabric) we used to pull the opposite corners to straighten the grain. This is not the corners, just the middle of the panel.

Sorry for the "novel." Any ideas?

I would try wetting down the panel and blocking it. It sounds like that side got stretched some how. :D:D:D

I agree. Wet it, and then pull it into shape. It may have been warped/stretched as it was rolled onto the bolt. However, most panels are (unfortunately) not printed perfectly on-grain. You should still be able to use it successfully but you'll have to work on a bit to get it into shape.

If the panel has any kind of a "landmark" line - an actual line or a division between two different prints or colors or something that I can go by, I draw a line on my (huge, homemade) ironing board with water-soluble marker, then use a square ruler to mark a perpendicular line at one end.

I get the panel pretty damp with Best Press and start pinning the "landmark" line on the panel to the line on the ironing board. Put a pin every inch or less on that side.

Gently pull against the pins to smooth out the panel and line up the top of the panel with the perpendicular line on the ironing board. This may be the hardest part. You might have to get the fabric a little wetter to force it to behave.

Get a ruler and measure from the pinned landmark on one side to a similar point or line on the other side of the panel and pin at that spot. Smooth and measure and pin, smooth and measure and pin.

Let the panel dry on the ironing board, then press it. It's a pain in the neck, but it's easier than trying to piece a tetrahedron! :mrgreen:

Good luck! :)

Can you use spray starch on it & pin it down to square it up?

I saw this method somewhere square up a block & it worked. Will try to locate but may take awhile.

I have to agaree with wetting it and blocking it. You can also use a steam iron with heavy steam to shrink it a bit.

I would wet it with spray starch and "block" it square. Sharon Schamber has some Youtube videos that demonstrate how to do this.

Thanks for all of the great tips IN A FLASH. You gals really work fast I don't know what Best Press is, but I can try the wet method. I'll watch the video before I do anything. Thanks again.

Actually the side that is curved is a concave line, so the curve goes into the rectangle. Thanks for the quick and thoughtful responses.