Watson

My fabric started out 45 x 45.
We painted a background on it, using Lumiere fabric paint. I heat fixed it and now when I measure it, it measures 45x45 at the bottom where there is little paint, but 45x47 at the top where the paint is more intense. The fabric obviously stretched along the edges.
I'm going to have to square it and I'm wondering what the best way is to take off the extra fabric?
All off of one side? Or am I going to have to take off the same on both sides to keep it running with the grain? Or does that matter?
Is this quilt going to hang straight after I do all this?

Watson

Tartan

If you were going to wash it later, I would worry about it shrinking in once the some of the paint comes out. If if isn't going to be washed, I would use my big square on each bottom corner and rulers up the sides from the square and trim a little off each side until it was square again.

meanmom

I think I agree with Tartan. I would be afraid it would shrink back after washing.

feline fanatic

2" seems like an awful lot for it to stretch. I also agree with Tartan. You may want to try dousing the piece in water and letting it dry flat and perhaps block it to see if that helps. Also keep in mind that the quilting process, especially if you plan some dense quilting, will further distort it. I think if this were mine, I would draw a chalk line where it would be square. Because you say it is a background piece I am assuming (perhaps wrongly) that your plans are to do some sort of applique on it. So I would applique as though the chalk line were my edge. I would complete the entire piece but before binding I would measure again and then cut to square if it is still off that much. Then I would block the piece.

Watson

Feline fanatic you read my mind.
I am going to draw in where the edges should be rather than cut it beforehand.
It's going to be done in thread painting. I hope.
Watson