Pennyhal

I normally have good luck buying fabric online. However, I bought a Christmas panel that had blocks online. The fabric turned out to be very thin, raveled easily, and the blocks were not printed square. Actually, the edges were curved a little. I think was caused by the fabric itself being off square too. Anyhow, I starched the bejeebies out of the blocks, added a 3 in border, then squared the whole thing. Drove me crazy.

This is not the first time this has happened to me when buying panels. I bought a gorgeous angel panel that had blocks once, a great fabric, at a LQS but the blocks were printed off grain as rhombuses. They explained to me that if the fabric is off grain when they printed it, the entire fabric run would be off grain. But, I could see this before I bought the fabric. When I buy fabrics online, I have no way of knowing this, nor the quality of the fabric.

I guess I could only buy fabrics that were mfg by companies that I know, but how do you tell when you purchase online that the blocks are not square? Most stores will say cut fabrics cannot be returned as well.

Tartan

When buying blocks or panels, look for ones that don't have printed borders. Even good companies print them askew in my opinion. If there are no borders, it is less noticeable when you have to square up the panel.

HouseDragon

Unfortunately panels in general seem to be "off" in one way or another. That's been my experience. They are either off grain or not all exactly the same size. With that said, I think the best way to fix the problem is to sash each block and then trim each block to the same size. Once the quilt is quilted, your eyes won't see the slightly off-kilter bits.

ManiacQuilter2

I was given these blocks from my guild to make a charity quilt. I was shocked that we can put a man on the moon but can't print an accurate square pattern on fabric. Can't figure that out. I had to sew an 1.25" border on all four sides.

I would have instead iron on fusible very lightweight interfacing (like one uses for a t-shirt quilt) to the back of the fabric because the starch will wash out with the first wash and the quilt might not last too long.

willferg

I have consistently had trouble with preprinted blocks. It's a shame, really....

Daylesewblessed

ManiacQuilter2, your borders improve the whole look of the block -- nice choice in border fabric!

ghostrider

It's not just panels that are printed 'off-grain', almost all prints are. It's the norm, not the exception. You just don't notice it when it's not something that needs a very definite veritical alignment.

caroloto

So true! You'll notice it when you need an even edge for a border or such.

Scraplady

I agree, most fabrics are printed slightly off. It just happens as the long runs of fabric are put through all the machines that print and wind, etc. But you definitely notice it more on panels or prints that have strong horizontal (cross-grain) lines that should form right angles with the selvages but don't!

Nammie to 7

We just learn to work with the panels if we want to buy them. I do find no one notices once they are in a finished quilt.