ruby2shoes

Thankyou everyone for your speedy, helpful replies. I'll take your advice and not worry about my grain but it still seems to have some sort of stretch in it that is causing ripples when I try to lay it out flat for basting. I have already washed it since purchase. Ah well, I guess I'm spending another day on the floor with my pins trying to tame the wretched thing! Lol. Thanks again everyone....appreciated

Gay

I would wash again, hang on the line so all the selvedges meet,. Pin if necessary. Sometimes the selvedge is a bit tighter weave than the middle, perhaps a few snips with scissors along those edges would help.
Have to say I've never heard of fabric being rolled when wet, wouldn't it get smelly and mouldy?

peaceandjoy

Another method that sometimes helps with "regular" width cotton that is off grain is to stretch diagonally. The problem, of course, with such a large piece is that you will need someone to hold the opposite corner. You may need a couple of goes. If you do an internet search for "stretch fabric diagonally to get back to straight grain", you should be able find videos of it being done. Panels, imo, are generally horribly skewed and this usually helps.