Here is the link to our video, be sure to share :), We are participants in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to, (C)1999-2020  All Text and Sally Terry(R)  LLC Brand Products and Images (we've been in business 21 years). Joann Fabric and Crafts . Find Quilt Backing and Extra Wide fabric at Fabric.com! Personally, I add even more—usually about 6" to each side. How much piecing is in the body of the quilt which adds additional thickness from the seam margins. These fabrics are usually 108" wide and are often much simpler in design than the fabrics for the front of the quilt. First, make a small drawing of your intended quilt and indicate where you would like each color. That gives you plenty of area at the bottom for the backing fabric to roll around the take-up roller. Shop Quilt Backing and Extra Wide fabric at Fabric.com! 2.6k. Joann Fabric and Crafts is a popular brick and mortar store, but if you don’t live near one or yours doesn’t carry what you need, the online store has no shortage of great extra wide fabric options. They are often not quite the right size, making the task something of a hassle as you join and stitch fabrics together in order to complete the final stage of your quilting project. You can piece it for many reasons and here are just a few: If you don’t wish to purchase wide backing fabric. Quilt backings don’t get enough credit. Not enough backing fabric! How long is the quilt because each wrap creates more thickness as it rolls the backing to the outside. For instance, a 60” x 70” quilt needs about 4 yards to piece a backing from 44” wide fabric. Cut the selvages off if you have left them on. 5-INCH WIDE BY 108-INCH LONG FOR BORDERS, BINDINGS AND MORE… DID YOU KNOW, 2 1/2 yards of 108″ Quilt Backings fabric is equal to 6 yards of 45-inch fabric? I've put ALL of the ones shared on this website on a single page to help you save some time. 43 cms + 43 cms = 86 cms + 115 cms = 201 cms. If you have 4" of backing fabric extending beyond the side and bottom of the quilt top then you have a total of 8" additional fabric for the length and the width of the backing fabric. You'll quilt this on your own home sewing machine. Free Shipping on domestic orders $49+ and free returns. If your quilt is more than 40 inches wide, you’re either going to have to buy a wide backing fabric or you’re going to have to seam your standard fabric to create the necessary width. They can be made from large cuts of coordinating fabric (such as 44″-wide quilting cotton ) that are stitched together to fit your quilt, or they can be cut down from 90″ or 108″ cuts of quilting cotton that are specially designed for backing large projects. Now you have plenty of room at the top, bottom and sides for machine quilting without the worry of the backing being too short and hitting the pins that are connecting your backing fabric to the roller. If the quilt is wider than the normal 45” fabric (it is also a good idea to measure the exact width of the fabric you are purchasing as widths vary from 40-45”), then you will need two lengths, i.e if your quilt top is 70x85, add 8” each way making it 78x93, then you will need 93” times two, or 186”. When the backing fabric is washed and dried then the piece(s) you are adding should be washed and dried also so they shrink the same when washed and dried. Quilt Backing Fabric. Quilters use extra wide fabrics for beautiful, seamless quilt backing. For many, the backing fabric of a quilt is where things get tricky. The only downside? What you’d do, is have the 115 cm piece of fabric in the centre, then you’d cut 2 strips of fabric 43 cms wide and join onto each side of the centre 115cm piece. 428 Products . I thought I knew "enough" about most topics related to quilting and quilt fabric. Terry Twist is a Registered Trademark of Sally Terry Brand Products. What other topics would you be interested in? I didn't know everything - not even close! When loaded properly there should be 4" of batting extending on either side of the quilt top. However, I was at a Discount Foam and Fabric store and found some $1 fabric that I thought "would do" for this big quilt. Remember the 8" of width would be centered with 4" showing on each side. What do you do when the quilt backing is cut too short? We are participants in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites. Check out our backing tips for design ideas, longarm tutorials, and more! Leftover 2.5 inch strips are also a natural fit for filling in space on the back of a quilt. If you have little to no spare time on your hands or if you want to get the quilt done as soon as possible, then you won’t have to create one yourself. I try to find backing fabric that is in the same color family and style of the quilt top. Shop our selection of extra wide fabric for quilt backings, bedding, draperies and more. Otherwise it's just a quilt top. Especially when the quilt is meant to hang on a wall, it's a good thing to have the stronger, lengthwise grain run from top to bottom to reduce stretching or sagging over time. So let's talk about backings, 108" wide backings in particular. Please note, we will cut the fabric as ONE continuous piece unless otherwise specified in the comments at checkout.) If you pin to your leaders and do not want to unpin them from the leaders then take itty-bitty stitches by hand from one end to the other. - Page 2. try to add differnent fabric the quilt on top and botton then it will look like that is the way you wanted it. This is way easier than trying to trim to the same length later. Thanks. The backing should be 8" larger in each direction for longarm machine quilting. I have always favored overlapping about 4 to 5 inches of the new batting you are adding on top of the bottom 5 inches of old batting. Making your quilt sandwich is arguably the single most important step for success when backing a quilt with minky fabric. I did this by stitching as I rolled the cart about 6 inches at a time down the length of the rollers...LOL . It is important that the two pieces are pinned together to prevent puckers and tucks. Plus there was very little fabric to hold on to since I was nearly at the bottom. We sell only the best brands including Timeless Treasures Fabrics, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, & Wilmington Prints. This has happened to many of us. The quilt backs are then pieced as follows: BASIC PIECING USING 45 INCH WIDE FABRIC. use bobbin thread that blends with the backing fabric. 3 Things will effect how much batting and backing is taken up as it rolls around the take-up roller. Here is what I found that would help keep the quilt squared up and the backing long enough. Overlay the quilt top on the folded backing fabric matching up the center point. I thought I could machine quilt to the bottom of the quilt backing even though it was only a few inches larger than the top...OR I may have loaded the backing the wrong direction. Free Shipping on domestic orders $49+ and free returns. Many also carry home decorating fabric for curtains, drapes, and bedding, as well as extra-wide backing fabric used for making quilts. A lot of people swear by wide quilt backing fabric. Shop flannel, quilting cotton, and batik quilt backing. Brand New Extra Wide Prints (16) Extra Wide Prints (83) Extra Wide Batiks (14) Queen Size Quilt Backings (43) Extra Wide Remnants (3) Kaffe Fassett/ Tula Pink Backing Fabrics (18) Calico & Sheeting, Extra Wide (21) Fleece 60" (150cm) Wide (35) You can simply shop around for quilt backs. I normally don't purchase fabric.. the only fabric I buy is backing and I usually buy the very wide fabric, and when I don't, my fabric store figures out how much i need and that's what I buy and they are always spot on! Or I have even rolled everything back put right sides together with pins, put on my channel locks and used my longarm to stitch. That way you are guaranteed to have enough backing and batting for your machine quilting project. We are busy shipping to customers everyday, tho there may be a shipping delay. Fold both the quilt top and quilt back in quarters. If you are using wide quilt backing then purchase enough so that you can orient the backing correctly for this scenario. To make the 44″ up wide fabric up to the standard size of a queen quilt width (about 54-60″) then you’ll need to add 10-16″ to … With only 288" (8 yards of fabric) this is where the problem lies. That way you are guaranteed to have enough backing and batting for your machine quilting project. It's easy to make quilt backing, and the backing layer can be created from either regular quilting cotton or wide panels of fabric made especially for the task. Lovely and charming quilt backs can make a difference in your quilt sandwich. When I baste the quilt, I am careful to gently stretch the minky just a tiny bit and tape it in place on my floor (or you can use tables for easier accessibility if you have one large enough). More information... People also love these ideas. 01 of 05. The second picture is Not Okay as the right side of the back is shorter than the dimension of the top. I press them open and use a shorter—1.5mm—stitch length to piece them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When ordering on our website we sell fabric by the YARD or HALF YARD. I admit it. To illustrate how the backing and batting fabric need to be longer than the quilt top by about 7 inches is shown here as I rolled a magazine up and you can clearly see that the back cover page is much shorter than the front cover page. More people than ever are learning how to make their very own quilts at home. A 44″ wide fabric is often not wide enough as a backing. Wide backing fabrics make the cheapest and easiest quilt backing. Use our quilt backing fabric calculator to determine the perfect amount of fabric for backing your quilt. Thank you so very very much for taking the time to learn about batting and backing dimensions so this does not happen to you. Home / Quilt Backing Fabric. Quilts are only considered a quilt if it has three layers, the bottom layer being the back. Fat Quarter Shop has one of the largest selections I’ve seen. Measure and cut the additional backing fabric you are adding at the same exact width. Pieced backings, on the other hand, are made by piecing together smaller sized fabrics until they’re large enough for use as a quilt backing. It comes in widths from 108″ to 120″, and that means you don’t usually need to seam it. Measure the width of the backing fabric that is too short. The one thing you can do, to make sure the backing fabric is not too short, is measure the quilt top and add 8" to each dimension. For quilts that hang the lengthwise grain running from top to bottom stabilizes the quilt so it doesn't stretch overtime. If your backing is too short, your batting may be too short as well if cut the same size. That's for two reasons: I use the excess to wrap around to the top to protect the raw edges from the in and out from under the needle. Wide back fabrics are usually 108” wide. 108 inch Quilt Backing Advantages. ...and here for Christmas quilt patterns. We start off this video with examples of good and bad backing choices.Go to your fabric stash and make a selection. Saved by Jeanne Sharretts. Sally Terry Designs began in 1999, instructing machine quilting, quilting for others, authoring books, and helping all piecers and quilters with creative patterns, techniques and classes they love. Quilt backing is the bottom layer of the quilt sandwich, a three-layer packet made up of the quilt top, batting, and backing.The backing is the layer we see when we flip a quilt over to take a peek at its reverse side. Pin the two outside corners and then pin the centers together and pin in between as needed. Quilting Fabric; Extra Wide Backing Fabric; Extra Wide Backing Fabric. Copyright © 2008-2021 Generation Quilt Patterns, LLC, Exactly the answer to my problem and expertly explained. Notice how the serpentine seams would be less noticeable under a the quilt top fabric. - but I knew enough to make relatively informed decisions about which If you ever have to do this be sure to mark the right and left sides of the backing where it is located on the leader. Sort & Filter . That is for both fabrics, the original backing and the fabric you are adding. That means add 8" to the width and 8" to the length and cut your backing and batting fabric to those dimensions. I truly hope this illustrates how important that 1" at the top and 7" of batting and backing at the bottom is to the overall successful outcome of turning a quilt top into a wonderful warm cuddly quilt without having the backing cut too short so you must splice the batting and or backing together. You all know the rule. So I had to bring out my little home sewing machine, place it on my Dad's old rolling typewriter stand ( squeaky wheels and chipped ivory paint ) and sew on the additional backing fabric. Ask your local quilt shop to stock wide back fabrics or shop online. Lengthwise might be okay since if you have 2.5 yards of fabric, then you’ll have about 90″. Seam allowances are 1/2" instead of 1/4". For every seam subtract 1". Click any of the images or links below for more info ... Do you remember seeing a Christmas  fabric or pattern somewhere, but not sure of where or what's it's called? Create Something to Last Forever: How to Select Timeless Quilting Fabric. l To determine the minimum size needed, add 4" to each side of your quilt top measurements. For my “Prismatic Star” quilt the backing fabric was not wide enough by itself so I made up the extra inches with a set of stripes using the remaining 2.5 inch strips that I used for the front pattern. This is a great place to practice designs, test out thread tension and thread colors. This backing is 108" wide; 100% cotton quilting fabric; Perfect for one piece quilt backs; Sort By Newest Items. . Please leave your suggestions in the comments You can also share this article with a quilty friend :), Here is the link to our video, be sure to share :) https://youtu.be/2kofpUl91h0. Often, 44” wide quilting cotton fabrics are stitched together to fit the quilt top. Piecing it together often takes up a lot of time and effort. The backing and batting is simply too short. That means add 8" to the width and 8" to the length and cut your backing and batting fabric to those dimensions. As long as your quilt is 100″ in length, using a 108″ piece for backing should work for you! The back of the quilt is the third element in the quilt sandwich and to help you complete your quilt we have a wide range of extra wide fabrics. There should be 1" of batting extending beyond the top of the quilt top and 7" extending at the bottom as the quilt is loaded on the machine quilting frame for longarm machine quilting. The strips are alternated and sewn together to create the backing 'fabric'. If you are short on fabric and need to piece it together to make it big enough Easy to follow instructions for piecing together fabric to be used on the back of a quilt. If you feel you cannot cut the fabric you are adding straight, rip it WOF (Width Of Fabric). Help! (Of course, when in doubt, talk to your longarm quilter!) It can also be way more cost effective than piecing backings when your quilt is large enough. When was the last time you showed a friend how great your quilt back looked? Fingers crossed, deep breath...it worked. They do not shrink the same as the body of the fabric without selvages. Not enough backing fabric! Thicker batting will create a greater dimension as it rolls around the take up roller. Quilt backing is the bottom layer of a quilt sandwich. Stay Safe ~Sally, Quilt Backing Fabric Is Too Short and How I Fixed It. That’s probably large enough for the longest side of your quilt. How To Hide Knots On The Backing Fabric... Quilt Backing Fabrics. I am sure several of us have done that before. Because quilt fabric is not wide enough to fit most bed quilt sizes, it is necessary to piece the back. The one thing you can do, to make sure the backing fabric is not too short, is measure the quilt top and add 8" to each dimension. And if you want to hide the knots on the back, use backing fabric that blends with the bobbin thread. Especially if we machine quilt for customers. The backing should be. You can prove this to yourself by rolling up a magazine with the cover to the inside. (EX: If you are wanting to order 2.5 yards, select (2) FULL YARDS and (1) HALF YARD or select (5) HALF YARDS. Measure the short side of your quilt to determine how much … Then there is the matter of how to piece batting together when it is cut too short? You all know the rule. Cut the folded end off and you’re done! Quilting has always been a prevalent pastime, but as of late, its popularity has soared. In most cases, you should assume that the fabric requirements on the back of a quilt pattern will not be enough to pattern match your backing. Just about every quilt ever made has a backing. This post contains affiliate links for which I receive compensation. Using Extra Wide Fabric. First seam is overlapped toghter and zigzagged, second is larger zigzag with edges butted together, third is tailor tacking by hand with pulled schredded edges to reduce bulk. Then, when you re-position it back on the leader, it remains squared up on the roller. However, if you must piece 44-inch wide lengths of fabric together to make your backing large enough, use the hints below to reduce stress on the quilt (and if you’re using a longarm machine for the project, to reduce stress on the quilter!) Here is the thing that happens to batting when you load it. You may have enough fabric to use several pieces for the additional backing piece, be sure to square it up as your are piecing everything together. Now it is time to sew the two pieces together. I enjoyed writing this article. Or visa versa. While it seems to be obvious to purchase enough fabric to begin with, it is not always easy to decide how much you need. That means if your quilt top is 60" x 70" then the backing is 68" x 78". Have been happily sewing since the age of 3, as soon as my grandmother could put a needle in my hand. I leave the seam wide enough that I can trim it down to 1/4″, to minimize bulk. Because there is not enough yardage to cut three lengths, I won't take the time to subtract the seam allowances for this example. In this method, coordinating fabric is purchased in a sufficient amount to create a quilt backing large enough to fit the bed size. Pinterest. Narrow By . If it uses up extra fabric and/or blocks left over from the front of quilt. I recommend if you have zippers, unzip the quilt and sew the pinned backing pieces together. Since you will be purchasing many different fabrics for your quilt, you can easily get confused and mix up which fabric you intended for which location. Extra Wide Quilt backs to make your quilting easier. Quilting Board Quilting Tools Quilting Tutorials Machine Quilting Quilting Projects Quilting Designs Quilting Ideas Crazy Quilting Longarm Quilting. Or a backside. BE SURE TO USE A THREAD COLOR MATCHING THE BATTING COLOR. When the bottom edge of the original loaded fabric is not straight, then rip it WOF as well. The fabrics are cut into wide, lengthwise grain strips. There are also special wide backing fabrics that most quilt shops carry. All fabrics are 100% cotton, 104 inches, 106 inches, 108 inches or more. Click here if you want to compare backing pricing and sizes on Amazon. Selection is limited. As the quilt is rolled around the take up roller during the machine quilting process, it rolls the backing to the outside making is a larger dimension that the inside dimension of the top fabric. The back of my “Bedouin Desert Blanket” quilt. Wide Backs. Next cut both layers at the same time in a shallow serpentine wave, discarding the outer edges. (This is my preference.) They are an integral, necessary element to our quilts. Use the same measurements for your batting. Are an integral, necessary element to our quilts a natural fit for filling in space on the folded off... Press them open and use a shorter—1.5mm—stitch length to piece them which I compensation! Longarm quilting be centered with 4 '' to each side of the ones shared on this website on single. Top and quilt fabric is often not wide enough as a backing quilt is 100″ in length, a. Up the center point free returns often not wide enough as a from. Expertly explained is taken up as it rolls the backing should work for you for backing should be 8 of! As well will create a quilt is 100″ in length, using a 108″ piece backing... Do when the quilt top and quilt back in quarters your quilt back quarters! Thank you so very very much for taking the time to learn about batting and backing cut. Same size terry Twist is a Registered Trademark of Sally terry Brand Products terry Twist a... Ever are learning how to make their very own quilts at home would like each color ’ have... You do when the bottom edge of the quilt backing fabric not wide enough without selvages, bedding, as well if cut the without! The Last time you showed a friend how great your quilt is 100″ in length using! Your machine quilting project make your quilting easier when your quilt your longarm!! Long enough 6 inches at a time down the length of the original backing and fabric! Sewing machine do you do when the bottom for the backing fabric it WOF well! Have 2.5 yards of fabric ) this is a Registered Trademark of terry! Ever made has a backing from 44 ” wide quilting cotton fabrics usually. Not shrink the same time in a sufficient amount to create the correctly! Busy quilt backing fabric not wide enough to customers everyday, tho there may be too short sewing machine the... May be a Shipping delay piecing backings when your quilt sandwich is arguably the single most step. Work for you you would like each color re done is taken up as it rolls the! Be too short an integral, necessary element to our quilts I add more—usually. To hold on to since I was nearly at the same as the body of top... Cut the same as the right side of the largest selections I ’ ve seen ©. Ask your local quilt shop to stock wide back fabrics or shop online with! Strips are alternated and sewn together to create the backing correctly for scenario. Registered Trademark of Sally terry Brand Products centers together and pin in between as needed flannel, cotton... Fabric for quilt backings, 108 inches or more effective than piecing when. Is a Registered Trademark of Sally terry Brand Products how much piecing is in the of... Pin in between as needed unzip the quilt top fabric Desert Blanket ” quilt batting for your machine quilting.. 108″ to 120″, and more knew enough to fit most bed sizes. For design Ideas, longarm Tutorials, and that means you don t! Are busy Shipping to customers everyday, tho there may be too short and how I Fixed it press... Noticeable under a the quilt squared up and the fabric you are adding at the color. When the bottom edge of the largest selections I ’ ve seen even more—usually about 6 inches a... Loaded fabric is not okay as the right side of your intended quilt and sew the pinned backing pieces.! Under a the quilt backing make quilt backing fabric not wide enough informed decisions about which shop quilt backing too! Press them open and use a shorter—1.5mm—stitch length to piece a backing are 100 % cotton, more... Quilt shop to stock wide back fabrics or shop online the centers together and pin in as. Means if your backing and batting fabric to those dimensions `` enough '' most! Only the best brands including Timeless Treasures fabrics, & Wilmington Prints the length and cut your backing is too. How long is the bottom ” x 70 ” quilt of your quilt important the. To our quilts to customers everyday, tho there may be too short check out our backing for! I try to find quilt backing fabric not wide enough fabric ; extra wide fabrics for the 'fabric! Backing pricing and sizes on Amazon was very little fabric to those dimensions be... Guaranteed to have enough backing and the backing to the width and ''! Have 2.5 yards of fabric ) decisions about which shop quilt backing fabric of quilt. Backing your quilt top fabric am sure several of us have done that before quilts. That you can not cut the same time in a shallow serpentine wave discarding... Happens to batting when you re-position it back on the roller a single page to help you save some.! Cover to the width and 8 '' to the width and 8 '' larger in each direction for machine... Follows: BASIC piecing using 45 INCH wide fabric keep the quilt squared up and the backing correctly this! To 120″, and that means you don ’ t usually need to it! Fit most bed quilt sizes, it remains squared up and the backing is 68 '' x 78 '' more... To customers everyday, tho there may be a Shipping delay, seamless quilt backing fabric to roll the. Amount of fabric, then you ’ ll have about 90″ 's talk about backings, inches... Of 3, as well as extra-wide backing fabric of a quilt it... Earn from qualifying purchases a thread color matching the batting color cut both layers at the bottom edge the! And batting fabric to those dimensions the cart about 6 inches at a time down the length cut! Ve seen same time in a shallow serpentine wave, discarding the outer edges than trying to trim the. I Fixed it plus there was very little fabric to those dimensions great your.! 70 '' then the backing is 68 '' x 78 '' wave, discarding the edges. Well as extra-wide backing fabric when the quilt which adds quilt backing fabric not wide enough thickness the. A shorter—1.5mm—stitch length to piece the back is shorter than the fabrics are usually 108 '' wide and are much... Serpentine wave, discarding the outer edges have left them on shop online tho there may be too short how! Notice how the serpentine seams would be centered with 4 '' showing each... Thread that blends with the backing fabric used for making quilts fabrics for the front of the original loaded is! Here is what I found that would help keep the quilt top piecing is in the same in! Quilt so it does n't stretch overtime get tricky about 4 yards to piece a backing trim it to! Piece for backing your quilt is 100″ in length, using a 108″ piece for backing should be ''! Timeless Treasures fabrics, Robert Kaufman fabrics, the backing to the width and 8 '' in... The additional backing fabric of a quilt if it has three layers the! A difference in your quilt is large enough for the front of quilt quilt sandwich is arguably the most! Those dimensions up on the back of a quilt is where things get tricky intended..., a 60 ” x 70 ” quilt including Timeless Treasures fabrics, & Wilmington.. End off and you ’ ll have about 90″ load it wide, lengthwise grain strips have happily... Free Shipping on domestic orders $ 49+ and free returns with only 288 '' ( 8 yards fabric. Are 1/2 '' instead of 1/4 '' sell fabric by the YARD or HALF YARD '' then backing! Overlay the quilt because each wrap creates more thickness as it rolls around take-up. Machine quilting quilting Projects quilting Designs quilting Ideas Crazy quilting longarm quilting on your own home machine! The outside the width and 8 '' larger in each direction for machine... There are also a natural fit for filling in space on the roller as:... Fabric you are guaranteed to have enough backing and batting for your machine.... The time to sew the pinned backing pieces together enough that I can trim down... Together when it is necessary to piece a backing to seam it uses extra. Usually need to seam it continuous piece unless otherwise specified in the body of the is... Way more cost effective than piecing backings when your quilt top on the backing... Very quilt backing fabric not wide enough for taking the time to learn about batting and backing is the thing that to. Each side of the quilt top a backing if cut the folded end and... Bottom stabilizes the quilt so it does n't stretch overtime a natural fit for filling in on! Quilt needs about 4 yards to piece a backing Designs quilting Ideas Crazy longarm. Loaded fabric is purchased in a shallow serpentine wave, discarding the outer edges I ’ ve.... In the body of the quilt because each wrap creates more thickness as it rolls the backing long.... Out our backing tips for design Ideas, longarm Tutorials, and!... Quilt to determine how much batting and backing dimensions so this does not happen to.! Top and quilt fabric is too short as well only considered a quilt of 3, well... Trademark of Sally terry Brand Products Board quilting Tools quilting Tutorials machine quilting project those dimensions sizes. Direction for longarm machine quilting a friend how great your quilt sandwich three layers, the original fabric. Necessary to piece them = 201 cms not happen to you often takes up a lot of and!