How to Make a Seamed Quilt Back

One of the most important parts of ensuring that your quilt turns out great when you take it to a longarm quilter, is to ensure that you have a square quilt back. This is very difficult when a quilt back is pieced or if a quilt back is sewn together with two lengths of fabric. One of the best ways to ensure that you have a square quilt back is to make a seamed back. Here are instructions to make a seamed quilt back - I used approximately 4 meters of fabric (a meter is 39.5" long) and this made a backing 72" X 82".

1. Fold the fabric right sides together and with the seam allowances together. This creates a "sack" of fabric with a fold at one end and open at the other end. Sew a 1/2" seam on each side where the seam allowances meet.

2. Cut off approximately 1/4" at the folded edge of the quilt. This is the edge that is not open.

3. The quilt back is now open on both ends. Open it up and iron the seams open, on both sides.

4. Refold the quilt back together matching the open seams. You should notice the there is the natural fold line from the fabrics on each side of the open seams. Cut on one of these fold lines.

The result is a seamed back that looks great. Remember to square this back - top, bottom, and sides. Squaring your quilt top means that you take your ruler and cut off all four sides so that they are even. If you quilt your own quilts you will find that it will be easier to quilt with a squared back AND if you don't quilt your own quilts - your long arm quilter will thank you!

If you would like to know how wide your quilt back will be - I have that information on my website.

Thought for the Day
A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.
Hugh Downs