Now tear the selvedge from one side of one of the chunks—pick the printed selvedge side if there is one, so that you can keep track of the fabric print direction, especially if you’re working with a directional print and want both halves of the backing to be “right side up!” Just make a little snip into the fabric about ½-¾” in from the selvedge edge, and tear the whole selvedge off, like this: Press the fabrics, including all those torn edges, because they’ll all be a little ruffly and stretched at this point. I work with a 24″ x 36″ mat however—while it isn’t exactly tiny, you can’t cut huge backing-sized pieces of fabric on it. 6. Always ensure your quilt back is the same shape as your quilt top. This is about the only time I tear fabric, and I’d never do it to actually piece a block or sashing or something. Example Quilt: Once borders are added, the finished quilt top dimension is 58″ x 66″ Take quilt top width + 8″ = backing width 58″ + 8″ = 66″ Take quilt top length + 8″ = backing … Divide this number by 36″, add 1/8-1/4 yard for possible shrinkage and off grain issues, and purchase this much yardage for your backing and follow the rest of the tutorial below. Having the sides of the quilt parallel to the lengthwise grain (and the selvedges) will help the quilt hang straighter and with less waviness in the borders. It’s helpful to use a backing piece that is approximately 2.5” longer and wider than a mug rug top, or 3″ wider on all four sides of a quilt to make centering it easier. If your quilt top is less than 36″ wide, divide this measurement by 36″ and purchase this much yardage for your backing. Lay the backing fabric on your work surface, right side down, then center the batting on top of the backing and smooth away any wrinkles. I usually measure the length of the quilt … Here’s where the fun begins! Thanks so much. After Kathy’s great and precise tutorial at Pink Chalk Studio, this one probably seems a bit slap-dash, but hey, there’s always more than one way to go about it! It can be squares or strips or whatever you want to create. Finished with "Quilt Backing"? Finishing A Quilt Part 2- Adding Batting and Backing - YouTube It still "goes with" the quilt top, without being overly expensive. 1.4k. I really like how the torn edges create a really flat seam allowance. Start anywhere, and fold the binding over halfway…. If you cannot find extra wide backing fabric that co-ordinates with your quilt, then you have to purchase enough yardage of a quilting cotton so that you can sew it together and make it big enough for your quilt. I can give you a method to make it a little easier. Also included is a video tutorial on cutting those tricky templates AND a coloring … Sometimes it gets flipped over, or scrunched somehow and the back shows. I can keep the torn edges lined up on that line on the bed of the machine this way, and more of the seam allowance is under the presser foot for easier sewing. 3- trim your backing fabric to 3/4″ from the quilt top. So, unless it’s a baby quilt, you almost always have to piece a quilt back. Jul 17, 2016 - After Kathy's great and precise tutorial at Pink Chalk Studio, this one probably seems a bit slap-dash, but hey, there's always more than one way to go about it! Fold all the way down to the next edge. This is true, especially if your top includes white or pale fabrics. Pin the lengthwise torn edges together; it’s good to lay the two chunks on a cutting mat or table so that they’re flat when pinning. …talented… Here are the steps you need to follow. Sew your blocks, in any technique you want. I think it looks prettier if it appears that you put some effort into choosing a complimentary back. You can also make a horizontal seam on the back. ... Generally you have a quilt top and a backing- and when you quilt you do so according to the patterns or designs on the top and it doesn’t necessarily matter what is on the backing. Measure the width plus 8” and purchase two times this number. Loved the suit! Your back should also be bigger than the quilt top which makes quilting much easier. REPEAT the process of folding in the corners and pressing, then the edges and pressing – this time enveloping the raw edges of your quilt block or project with the fabric. The width of your quilt comes from the length of the backing. So you have given me courage to try something more adventurous. Shop flannel, quilting cotton, and batik quilt backing. Choose a quilt backing with an interesting motif and then quilt from the back along the fabric's printed lines, to transfer the design to the front. Use our quilt backing fabric calculator to determine the perfect amount of fabric for backing your quilt. You will quilt the project as desired prior to finishing the binding. A good idea is to use fabrics from the same collection. Lay the batting and the quilt top on the backing with the sides of the quilt top parallel to the selvedges of the backing and baste. oh, yes… Nadine are you also a swimwear designer? I try to take advantage of the show-through by using a fleece print that harmonizes with the colors on the front. I can’t decide whether that’s supposed to be a swimsuit or a fancy bra and panties, so I think I’ll leave it open to interpretation! If you’re making a very large quilt that will be folded a lot, some folks say not to put a seam down the middle because it’s a stress point when the quilt is folded. Trust me, it won’t matter one bit later, but pressing now is good for ease of construction. if your quilt top is 70x85, add 8” each way making it 78x93, then you will need 93” times two, or 186”. An example would be my halloween quilt, which has a lot of one type of halloween fabric on it (see the my Quilt Gallery), but also has a section made up of great seasonal fat quarters which may never have been used on a quilt top. I do this all the time EXCEPT I use the seam to create some beautiful detail with fabric from the from of the quilt and I sew those pieced in between the seams. The seams used to piece quilt backing can run vertical or horizontal depending on the size and shape of your project. Third, apply basting spray to the back of the batting and center it on the backing piece. If your quilt top is longer than the width of the backing fabric (which, normally would be 45” or 60” unless you get actual quilt backing fabric) you will have to sew a seam down the center (as shown in the picture). Thank you for linking up to Put your foot down. When shopping for quilt backing some people like to purchase inexpensive fabric, or plain muslin for the backing of their quilts. Start by flipping the the binding over to the front of the quilt. First, if you don’t know, a quilt sandwich is nothing more than the pieced quilt top, the batting and the backing. It is possible to purchase extra wide fabric made specially for the purpose of quilt backing, and it is great. Measure your quilt top from the top to the bottom, and add 6-8″. So, I occasionally "use up" bits and pieces for the quilt backing, and unfortunately I'm not always happy with the result. There are some common quilt backing problems to watch for when backing your quilt. Also it is more comfortable if you are snuggling under a quilt, to NOT have the seam down the middle. You can do this with scissors, but my preferred method is to use arotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat. I would purchase 5 1/2 yds or 4.8 m (186" divided by 36" for yard, or divided by 39" for meters. TUTORIAL - SQUARING A QUILT BACKING I am going to show you how I square my quilt backings. Scrappy quilt backings refers to when you collect a wide range of scraps, often leftover from the quilt top, and piece it together to create the backing. The reason for this, is that a quilt gets most of its wear down the center and a seam there will wear faster. He uses a sampler quilt, blue painter's tape, clamps, spray baste, curved safety pins, a quick clip tool, and bicycle clamps and a wide backing made out of "Free Fall" fabric by Tula Pink. John Flynn's Diagonal backing calculator helps to minimize the amount of fabric needed for your quilt backing. Some quilters also like to piece the quilt backing, using the left over fabric from the front. Your t-shirt quilt top is finished! Don’t worry about whether both ends match up when you’re done pinning. I’m a beginner yet, so it’s constantly challenging and fun and creative all at once. Common Quilt Backing Problems . The Quilt As You Go technique (QAYG) is a way to quilt blocks before putting a quilt together. Valentina. RRRRIIIIPPPP! If it’s that far off of being straight, will the quilt hang straight in the end? You may want to baste the layers lightly together with basting spray, but for a quilt this small, I usually don’t baste. Like how the torn edges stick out to the right some common quilt backing fabric calculator to determine perfect! The width plus 8 ” and purchase two times this number side up and away!: how to, long arm quilting, quilt, quilt, fold... Up to Put your foot down add backing to a quilt ; how to, tutorial add 6-8″ fabric to... 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