164
CHAPTER PREPARING A QUILT FOR QUILTING
Piece a Quilt Back
When a quilt is too large to cut the backing from a single width of fabric, you’ll need to piece the
backing together. You can piece a quilt back using strips of a single fabric, or a mixture of the fabrics
and leover blocks used in making the top. Backing fabric with a busy print will help to hide quilting
mistakes, while a plain fabric will show off your quilting. You can also use the backing print as your
guide for quilting the top, if you quilt from the back and follow the patterns in the fabric.
1
Quilt top
Backing
Prewash backing fabric if it is a
dierent fiber than the quilt top.
Measure the quilt and consider piecing options.
The backing should be 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) larger than
your quilt top on all sides. Horizontal seams reduce the
amount of fabric you need and are favored by longarmers.
Vertical seams are better for wall hangings because they
don’t have to support the weight of the quilt as it hangs.
Avoid placing a seam in the middle of your backing.
3–4 inches (7.6–10.2
cm) margin
165
PIECE A QUILT BACK
3
Sew pieces together with a wide seam.
Trim selvages and sew backing strips right sides together
with a wide
1
⁄
2
-inch (1.3 cm) seam, backstitching at the
beginning and end of the seam. To avoid placing a seam in
the center of a quilt, you can sew seams on both sides of the
back and cut it down the middle. Press your quilt back with
starch before layering it with your top and batting.
2
Plan your piecing to maximize fabric.
Assume your quilt is 60×72 inches (152.4×182.9 cm). Allow-
ing for a 4-inch (10.2 cm) margin on all sides, your backing
should measure 68×80 inches (172.7×203.2 cm). If you piece
vertically using a
1
⁄
2
-inch (1.2 cm) seam allowance, you’ll
need two strips 78–80 inches (198.1–203.2 cm) long, or 4
1
⁄
2
yards (4.1 m) of fabric. Piecing horizontally, you’ll need two
strips 68 inches (172.7 cm) long, or 3
7
⁄
8
yards (3.5 m).
42 inches 27 inches
80 inches
68 inches
39 inches
42 inches
Sew Sew
Cut down
the middle
Piece vertically
Piece
horizontally
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