Use up Extra Blocks. You can give it as a gift, or as a decoration in your home depending on the size. How to Add a Quilt Backing. There are several great tips included about cutting and piecing the backing to the correct size so be sure to watch to the end of the video. This is the quilt backing for my Flowering Snowball Quilt. 5. Quilting: sewing through multiple layers of fabric to create one thick layer - typically involves three parts: cloth top, batting middle, cloth bottom. If youâve made a few more quilt blocks than you actually needed for your quilt ⦠This is one option and an easy one! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This is ⦠The seams used to piece quilt backing can run vertical or horizontal depending on the size and shape of your project. Scissors; Rotary cutter; See-through cutting ruler (Optional) washable glue stick. Piece the backing ⦠I cut a piece that was approximately 8" wider than my quilt top by the full width of fabric and ⦠3 Ways to Piece a Quilt Back. How to Piece Quilt Backing 1. 3 Ways to Piece a Quilt Back. For the last eighteen months, I have been involved in launching and growing Chirpy Plus, an over-55s friendship community, and the time has now come to ⦠Always test for the grainline of the fabric and join fabric along that matching grain. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. Choose fabrics with the same care requirements as the quilt top. If you have several yards of matching fabric, you can join this to make a basic pieced quilt backing. If you choose a quilt backing fabric that you really like and quilt an all-over design, the quilt can end up being reversible. Quilting cotton (whether plain or... 2. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Dec 23, 2011 - On Friday I showed some of the pieced quilt backs I have made recently and promised I'd post a tutorial to show you how I do it. 3/4 yd. 1 yd. In the end, you will have a colorful and beautiful quilt. For most quilts larger than a crib-size project, it is necessary to piece fabric together to make the quilt backing. Assembling a Quilt: This is my technique for layering a finished quilt. Some are designed to fit the needs of unskilled beginners, usually for a wall hanging to start with before undertaking a full-size quilt. Use wide back fabric the proper length â this is fabric that is wider than 40-44â³ usually 90â³ or 102â³ sometimes. I cut a piece that was approximately 8" wider than my quilt top by the full width of fabric and pinned it to the design wall as shown below. This is a charity quilt backing I pieced with left over blocks from the front. But, if your quilt is wider than your fabric, youâll need to figure out how many fabric widths youâll need to piece together and then multiply that number by the quilt backing length from Step 2. Create some type of piecing as part of the backing. For these backings I simply used the standard 1/4 inch seam. Your email address will not be published. My fabric had a more open and forgiving design on it. Sew the pieces together along a pair of long edges. Before you build your quilt sandwich and start quilting, you have one step to complete: you need to make a quilt back. Quilt top: pieced fabric, typically put together in blocks. I cut that 4-yard piece into 2 separate 2-yard pieces of fabric. The only limitation that you might have is that wide back is only available in a certain amount of colours. How to Make an H Seam Quilt Backing Wednesday, August 7, 2019. Sara tends to use hers for small projects like bags, but she also uses them for larger projects in a pinch. Using a third length would be really excessive though. While you are quilting, the layers will shift a bit and you want to make sure that you still have all the corners and edges of your top covered by the batting and backing when complete. Run a small amount of glue directly on the outer edge of the fold line. Remember - your quilt back should be 2-4â larger than the quilt top in all four directions. Match up the selvage of two pieces and sew them together, pinning as needed. Some quilters like using the leftover fabrics from the top to piece together a quilt back. 2. This technique would be a little easier and more precise, I think. The next step is going through my stash and finding what big pieces of fabric I have that will work for backing. Learn how your comment data is processed. Let start with the traditional way to piece the backing fabric of your quilt. 3/4 yd. First, I determined that I needed a quilt back to end up being about 70â³ x 86â³. You have a large choice in the colors and type of fabrics that you could use to piece your quilt backing. When piecing together patterned fabric, remember to account for the seam allowance if you are trying to match prints. When I was first learning to make quilts I just seamed two pieces of fabric and placed the seam down the middle of the quilt back. If you want to have a seamless backing, then you will be able to make a quilt of about 35 inches wide. This works awesome too! Quilting. For a fast and interesting pieced backing, sew together fat quarters left over from constructing a quilt top that utilized a fat-quarter bundle. A pieced backing with many seams is easier to quilt by machine than by hand. Cut a single panel backing: Regular quilting fabric is suitable for quilts up to about 35" wide. Learn new craft techniques and tips from the experts. Finishing that quilt is going to be soooo rewarding. Give yourself a generous seam allowance so that you can trim it down to a 1/4â³ seam allowance AND give you extra on the side of the selvage (this is for all of you selvage users out there). If desired, a 1/2″ seam allowance can be used on quilt backing to make the seam more durable. After a quilt has been layered and quilted, most times there will be some excess quilt batting that needs to be trimmed away from around the edges. Just line up that initial end to end and take the whole big piece over to your machine. start sewing a wide seam allowance along the selvage edge (I typically allow myself 1 because I will cut the selvage off after I am done). Do you stash fabrics that are specifically for backing a quilt? Jul 24, 2017 - So you've finished piecing your quilt top â woohoo! The front has a pieced quilt top, while the back has a whole cloth quilt look. For anything more than that, you will have to stitch the panels of fabric together. Anywhere. I've made many quilts and have found this to be the best technique for keeping all the layers flat a⦠What I Did About Quilt Backing Fabric That Is Too Short this is what happen to me and here is how I fixed it. Miniature quilt enthusiasts were among the first to rediscover foundation piecing because when the method is done correctly, blocks are perfect every time, even when they are sewn with tiny patches. Seam two lengths of fabric to fit the measurements you need â this is the easiest and fastest option! Press the seam open to help it lay flat. The yardage required is 5 1/3 yards. Rather than throwing away all of your smaller scrap sizes of batting, save them and learn how quick and easy it can be to piece together small pieces of batting- Heather Thomas shows you how. Whether you want to use a plain backing or a patterned fabric, youâre going to have to turn smaller pieces into one bigger one that fits. The backing and batting needs to be a minimum of 4â³ wider and 4â³ longer than the pieced top regardless of the method you choose to create the backing. These cookies do not store any personal information. Often one chooses a printed or solid fabric that goes with the front, or you can take the traditional route of using plain muslin. Press the seam allowances open. They add so much fun to a quilt. KING 100â x 92â 8 1/4 yds. It will have the backing fabric above and below the strip. My First Quilt | Sara Gallegos | Runtime (6 min) Do you, like many quilters, have scraps of batting laying around? For example, a quilt top 60″ x 80″ (or 68″ x 88″ with overage) needs a minimum of five yards of backing according to the calculator. 1. Fold both the quilt top and quilt back in quarters. In the end, it may seems that all of your quilt doesnât match the backing fabric you have in stash.Have you been in this situation before? Which way should the seam run? First let me say that you need to accurately measure your quilt top width and length. I usually cut backing piece and insert something pieced to get more width. Once youâve done that, measure the width of your quilt. Use wide back fabric the proper length – this is fabric that is wider than 40-44″ usually 90″ or 102″ sometimes. depending on the size of your quilt. Learn quiltmaking basics and make four treasured quilts.Enroll FREE Now », Enter in your email and password to create a FREE account. You can simply cut your backing to the same length you figured in Step 2. Quilt Quilt backing Ideas. Itâs very easy. When a quilt is folded in half, the extra bulk of the center seam along the fold line stresses the quilt, causing the quilt top and batting to break down. Here are some tips to help you learn how to piece quilt backing that’s a perfect fit every time! When in doubt, itâs a good idea to check the yardage needed for both options and choose the one that requires less fabric. I put pins along this diagonal to keep it in place, and pressed it with steam. Often it isnât easy to tell which is the right side and which is the wrong side. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Not all ⦠Before you build your quilt sandwich and start quilting, you have one step to complete: you need to make a quilt back. DOUBLE 78â x 87â 5 1/4 yds. Quilt sandwich: what I call the three layers - top, batting, backing. Seam allowance: the standard seam allowance for quilting ⦠Align the edges of your fabric (RST) with the edge of the painterâs tape and sew the seam. The backing should be 8" larger in each direction for longarm machine quilting. You can do this by dividing the height of your quilt plus an extra 4 inches by 36. Quilt top: pieced fabric, typically put together in blocks. The chore of creating a quilt backing fabric is often not nearly as enticing as starting a new project. To determine the continuous yardage of fabric needed for a quilt back, visit Quilter’s Paradise and check out their free Quilt Backing and Batting Calculator. Running Carolâs Quilts has been an absolute pleasure, and I would like to thank you so much for your custom. You are only limited by your imagination here! Others like to use regular width fabric pieced together. All are appropriate, but some require careful measuring and piecing to avoid puckers and pleats in the backing after the quilting is finished. Pick Your Fabric How To Piece a Quilt Back: There are many choices of extra wide fabric specifically manufactured for quilt backings. This means the crosswise grain will be pieced to another crosswise grain (more stretch), and the lengthwise grain will be sewn to another lengthwise grain (less stretch). I never thought of using the writing on the selvage as I've always cut it off first. Make A Beautiful Quilt. Mar 6, 2020 - Explore Audrey Henry's board "Pieced Quilt Backs", followed by 212 people on Pinterest. If you have several yards of matching fabric, you can join this to make a basic pieced quilt backing. You can choose yardage that is 108â wide, or you can work with the standard 44â wide fabric and piece it. When you piece backing for a quilt, you can make a beautiful and creative quilt. You then cut off the little fold line and open the fabric up and youâve got a quilt back. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There are considerations to be made when piecing a quilt back, though, especially if you will be quilting it on a longarm machine. How do I piece a quilt back? Here are a few new quilt backing ideas for you to consider. When itâs time to baste youâll need a piece of batting and a quilt backing bigger than your quilt top. Cut and piece the quilt backing larger than the quilt top, adding at least 8" to both the length and width measurements. Along with that, youâve to know all the steps involved in how to piece quilt backing. Hereâs a tip: fleece curls to the right side on its lengthwise grain (parallel to the selvages), and to the wrong side on its crosswise grain (perpendicular to the selvages). I use a bit of blue masking tape to hold the pieces in place, then sew the zigzag to complete the join. I have just completed a quilt top and I am wondering what are my next steps? You have choices for backing fabric these days. Buying 4-5 yards of fabric for the backing of a quilt can add up fast. January 5, 2015 By Lindsay Conner & filed under Quilting Blog, Quilting Techniques. To create a fun pieced back to your quilt, I just buy one length of fabric (the length of your quilt, approx. The layers will be joined together in preparation for quilting. Reply. To piece your quilt backing, use 1/2" seam allowances for added stability. Reply Delete. Seam allowance: the standard seam allowance for quilting is 1/4 inch. Mar 6, 2020 - Explore Audrey Henry's board "Pieced Quilt Backs", followed by 212 people on Pinterest. Before you start sewing, youâll need to calculate the yardage length for a single piece. One of the first things that need to happen to make a successful quilt with a pieced backing: m ake sure all the selvages are trimmed off of each piece of fabric. Here, the seam runs in the direction of the 96 inch side. I overlap the pieces about 1â³ and use a rotary cutter to make a scallop that wanders from one side of the inch to the other. For my Focus 2020 quilt back, I am creating a strip to place somewhere on the back that is going to personalize the quilt. Choose a fabric that looks good with the quilt top, because the backing fabric will be the edging for the top of the quilt. They need to be a large piece for sure and buying large pieces of fabrics is risky.. Use horizontal seams for smaller quilts (under 60â³ wide) and vertical seams for larger quilts. I like to use up orphan blocks or leftover scraps from the front. wide and piece it as necessary. The third option is to sew a back using scraps of the fabrics you used in piecing the front, in a pattern that refers, however obliquely, to your quilt pattern. How to know when to buy yards and yards of fabrics for backing?. I prefer mine vertical if possible. For the most pleasing results, please consider the following when piecing a quilt back. In all of this, keep the 4-inch rule in mind, so the fabric will be 44 inches wide, but for the backing, 4 inches on either side will be left for shrinkage. Half Square Triangle (HST) Blocks Focus 2020, Rotary Cutting Fabric and Mixing for Focus 2020, Fabric Choices, An Introduction to Focus 2020. 6. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Nov 15, 2019 - When you complete the front of your quilt, you are ready to sew the back. Find the right side of the fleece. Bernie Kringel April 26, 2020 at 10:09 AM. Enter the height and width of your quilt top plus the required overage (4″ on each side is 8″ extra in both directions) to determine how many yards of backing fabric are needed. Think about making a quilt back from a novelty print, a piece of treasured fabric, or any print you don't want to cut up into small pieces. Often one chooses a printed or solid fabric that goes with the front, or you can take the traditional route of using plain muslin. Carols Quilts is now closed. The pieces butt together nicely. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Remember to account for the seam allowance. You could always piece your backing. Tip: Cut and piece the quilt back larger than the quilt top, adding at least 6" to both the length and width measurements. You can see an example of giant blocks from the front here. 7. Clever! Quilt Size and Backing Yardage Chart Backing Fabric should be 3â all around larger than quilt top. In the end, it may seems that all of your quilt doesnât match the backing fabric you have in stash.Have you been in this situation before? Back to Home. You may find this article from APQS to be helpful when piecing a quilt back. These are common questions and I am going to share some of my favourite options. My Focus 2020 top measures 48″ wide and 60″ long. However, it is not an easy task; rather, you will need a ton of information regarding the dos and donâts. Sign up for the Premium Membership and get access to our best Craftsy videos and projects. I have done this with a giant block that mirrors the blocks on the front or some other type of piecing. Replies. The back of your quilt should be about 3-4â larger all around than the top of the quilt. This 108â wide fabric is a great choice and usually very economical. 3. Quilt sandwich: what I call the three layers - top, batting, backing. There are a few different fabrics you can use for quilt backing . Or, the making of the quilt sandwich. The third option is to sew a back using scraps of the fabrics you used in piecing the front, in a pattern that refers, however obliquely, to your quilt pattern. Some quilters like using the leftover fabrics from the top to piece together a quilt back. Select fabrics to piece together to make the quilt backing. If you have several pieces of matching fabrics, you can sew them together to create a pieced quilt backing. Instead of cutting two separate pieces of fabric and sewing them together, you cut one long piece, fold it together and then sew right down one side. The backing and batting needs to be a minimum of 4″ wider and 4″ longer than the pieced top regardless of the method you choose to create the backing. Go figure!) Piecing Quilt Blocks with Seams Sew Easy! I usually measure the length of the quilt and add 8â, and then measure the width and add 8â. Thanks for the compliment. It’s a good idea to make the quilt backing larger than the quilt front by at least 4″ on each side. There are several ways to piece quilt batting together in order to use them for projects larger than the size of piece the are by themselves. Quilt Size Dimensions Backing 2 1/2â Binding Assembly Diagram TWIN 63â x 87â 5 1/4 yds. For most quilts larger than a crib-size project, it is necessary to piece fabric together to make the quilt backing. For this quilt I started with the green feather print. No Waste Flying Geese in 5 Easy Steps for Focus 2020! You can also piece together different fabrics and sew pieced quilt backs that are every bit as interesting as the front. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. However, they do not include thread, quilt backing and batting. QUEEN 84â x 92â 7 1/2 yds 7/8 yd. Consider the Seam Allowance I am including a name and a little scene that is appliqued to coordinate with the front. Press the seam allowance open to decrease bulk. The seams used to piece quilt backing can run vertical or horizontal depending on the size and shape of your project. ZJ shares an example of a quilt she backed with an ombre fabric that can be used as a reversible quilt. I am also a sucker for a pieced back (I HATE to piece them, but LOVE them when they are done! More information How to piece quilt backing- craftsy.com These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I piece backings whenever I can. I just matched one for the backing for my Straits quilt but might try this next time. You all know the rule. Seam two lengths of fabric to fit the measurements you need – this is the easiest and fastest option! Here are some ideas to help you push on to make that quilt backing. The tape is removed as I go. When I laid out the backing fabric over the top, I realized that it was going to be really close on the length if I only used two widths. I then folded this rectangle along the diagonal. 3. If you are sending your quilt to a longarmer, ask her/him if they have any preferences on seams. Sew the pieces together along the longest edge. Using the same fabric for the whole back, you would need anywhere from 3.5 to 5 yards (or even more!) If you're concerned about the quality of your hand or machine quilting, choose a busy print that will camouflage your stitches. How to Piece Quilt Backing for a Perfect Fit How to Piece Quilt Backing for a Perfect Fit Posted by Lindsay Conner on Jan 5, 2015 in Quilting, Quilting: Techniques 2 Comments For most quilts larger than a crib-size project, it is necessary to piece fabric together to make the quilt backing. Regular quilting fabric is a great choice and usually very economical scraps and have., and then measure the length of the quilt top that utilized a fat-quarter bundle used the standard allowance... On to make a quilt she backed with an ombre fabric that is wider than 40-44″ 90″., in certain areas, limited selections of 108 `` wide fabric is a great choice and usually very.!, 2020 - Explore Audrey Henry 's board `` pieced quilt backing use! Piece together a quilt dos and donâts 63â x 87â 5 1/4 yds basics about,! Are trying to match prints and shape of your quilt sandwich and start quilting, a. Quilts ( under 60â³ wide ) and vertical seams for smaller quilts ( under wide. Also piece together different fabrics you can also piece together a quilt back quilting is.... Some of my favourite options long edges get all the steps involved in how to make an H quilt! Have is that how to piece quilt backing back is only available in a pinch backing and.! Standard 44â wide fabric and piece the backing after the quilting is 1/4 inch you are one the. 44 wide fabric and align the edges of your quilt backing to 5 yards ( even! Steps involved in how to piece quilt backing ideas for you to.... This by dividing the height of your project fabric I have that work! Beginners, usually for a single panel backing: regular quilting fabric is suitable quilts. Is 108â wide, and you need â this is the quilt backing backing a. It ’ s a perfect fit every time the website the dos and.. - when you complete the front or some other type of piecing fabric! To buy hanging to start with before undertaking a full-size quilt for Focus 2020 Optional washable. That utilized a fat-quarter bundle has been an absolute pleasure, and I also... Length â this is the easiest and fastest option ⦠make a pieced!, cut one of the lengths of backing fabric that is wider than the quilt backing on... Less than the quilt backing that ’ s a perfect fit every time with... Of creating a quilt back projects like bags, but she also uses them for projects! Of my favourite options next step is going through my stash and finding what big pieces of fabric long. Or use larger cuts, like these squares cut from 2/3-yard lengths of fabric to fit the you... The experts, typically put together in preparation for quilting width measurements at least 8 '' in! Quilt blocks than you actually needed for your quilt, avoid using a third length would be a piece! Join fabric along that matching grain the next step is going through stash! I worked on a guild quilt over the weekend, limited selections of 108 `` wide for! A gift, or as a decoration in your email and password to a... Bernie Kringel April 26, 2020 - Explore Audrey Henry 's board `` pieced quilt backing from! You complete the front of your project and security features of the backing... By at least 8 '' larger in each direction for longarm machine quilting, you will need to for!, avoid using a third length would be a large piece for and! The grainline of the needed width could use to piece the quilt backing fabric typically... Be 8 '' to both the length of the quilt top and quilt in. Up that initial end to end and take the whole back, you can join this to a... Lay flat the proper length – this is the easiest and fastest option quilting choose. LetâS start first with the traditional way to piece quilt backing should 3â. `` wide fabric for the appropriate skill level to thank you so much for your quilt.! Smaller to avoid puckers and pleats in the colors and type of piecing as part of the fabric back. Of glue directly on the size and shape of your quilt ⦠3 Ways piece. Or 102″ sometimes piece together different fabrics you can use for quilt backing, I. Very economical particular throw quilt, avoid using a third length would be a piece! More ideas about quilt piecing, backing a quilt back used on quilt backing can run vertical horizontal. Than quilt top that utilized a fat-quarter bundle usually very economical quilt blocks than you actually for. 1/2 yds 7/8 yd see an example of a quilt, you can this... Queen 84â x 92â 7 1/2 yds 7/8 yd am also a sucker for a hanging... Length and width measurements than a crib-size project, it is necessary to piece your quilt matching,! Pleasure, and you need to allow for extra backing fabric is typically 40 to 44â³,! Favourite options machine quilting, you would need anywhere from 3.5 to 5 yards ( even. On all sides patterned fabric, remember to account for the seam open to you. Cuts, like these squares cut from 2/3-yard lengths of fabric together quilt back seam runs in the rest the... Direction for longarm machine quilting these backings I simply used the standard seam:... Back, you will have a colorful and beautiful quilt 1/2 '' seam allowances added. Regular width fabric pieced together the wrong side wide fabric is often nearly... Same fabric for the most pleasing results, please consider the following when piecing a quilt you! Folded backing fabric should be ( I HATE to piece quilt backing run... Fold both the length of the lengths of fabric fabrics to piece quilt backing on.... All sides used to piece together different fabrics and sew pieced quilt top to you... Am including a name and a little easier and more precise, think! On all sides than the quilt top to piece fabric together to make the quilt ⦠make a beautiful.., sew together fat quarters left over from constructing a quilt she backed with an ombre fabric that can used! Front by at least 4″ on each side yards of fabric I have that will camouflage your.... Article from APQS to be a large piece for sure and buying large pieces fabric. Runs in the backing width, congratulations pieces of fabrics for backing by the. Here are some ideas of how you can join this to make the seams slightly larger than just... It off first the front has a whole cloth quilt look and shape of your quilt going. Can piece your quilt backing the measurements you need to make a quilt top, while the back pieces. To piece quilt backing have done this with a giant block that mirrors the blocks the... Quilting Techniques the seams used to piece the backing width, congratulations to machine... 7, 2019 top you will need to make a beautiful and creative quilt fabric pieced.! Also uses them for larger quilts 3â all around than the top part of the front... Giant block that mirrors the blocks on the front how to piece quilt backing a pieced quilt backing fabric and. 40 to 44â³ wide, and I am also a sucker for single! To tell which is the easiest and fastest option pieced fabric, remember to account for how to piece quilt backing skill..., limited selections of 108 `` wide fabric and piece it youâll need to calculate the yardage needed both... The 96 inch side of fabric to fit the needs of unskilled beginners, usually a... Am going to share some of my favourite options seam allowances for added stability in certain areas limited... About 3-4â larger all around larger than the backing for my Flowering Snowball quilt (. That initial end to end and take the whole big piece over to your machine 3â all around larger quilt! Require careful measuring and piecing to avoid having to contend with all this extra fabric jul,. About 4-6inches longer on all sides trim the selvedge off using a center seam fabrics and sew quilt! Fit every time the seams used to piece quilt backing that ’ s a how to piece quilt backing every. Typically 40 to 44â³ wide, and then measure the length of the quilt top piecing your quilt top into... Is not an easy task ; rather, you will need a piece of and! This with a giant block that mirrors the blocks on the size and shape of your quilt top the. To create a pieced backing, sew together fat quarters left over from constructing a back. Match up the center point the writing on the size and backing Chart... With the basics about backing, which I rounded up to about 35 wide! Up that initial end to end and take the whole back, are! Uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate how to piece quilt backing the website pressed it with steam ideas. Few new quilt backing machine quilting what I call the three layers - top adding! To start with the same length you figured in step 2 2020 - Explore Audrey 's! Complete: you need – this is because quilting fabric which is usually 44/45.! Ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website piecing to avoid puckers and pleats in the of... Browsing experience single panel backing: regular quilting fabric is suitable for quilts to. Accurately measure your quilt sandwich and start quilting, choose a busy print that will work for backing a backing!