Even more on quilt backings....

My never ending quest to educate about quilt backing continues!! The following quilt back was two lengths of fabric sewn together to create the larger piece. Upon first examination, the back looked fine - look what happened when I placed it over my quilt frame rails to check if it was really square!! It wasn't square at all, although one side was a bit better than the other!, so that meant squaring it up - BUT, the quilt back was only an extra 5-6" to begin with..... SO, that meant when I finally did square it up the back only had an extra 2 or 3 inches - not good, but it was workable. So, if I had put this quilt on the frame without checking it - the quilt would have rolled up uneven - which could mean puckers and other problems when quilting..... I guess the moral of the story is.... if you don't square, leave some spare!!

One of the best tutuorials I have ever seen on squaring a quilt top can be found here, on YouTube. Take a moment to check this valuable piece of info!

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Make yourself necessary to someone.

Emerson

More on Quilt Backings....

I have a customer, who is also a friend, who brings me quilts with the most amazing pieced backings. I was telling her the other day that I usually cringe when I see a pieced backing because when I put it on the machine, invariably, the back does not roll on straight, it sags, and causes me no end of problems when I am quilting. How come, I told her, your backings are always so great!!, not to mention square. We got into a discussion about how she pieces her backing by matching the straight of grain of the fabric - not just by sewing pieces of fabric together to create a back! The fabric sometimes was pieced in large "strips" and I guess by matching the grain it is easier to do that. That is the secret to great pieced backs!! - match the grain of the fabric! I also told her I thought that she should teach a class on how to make great pieced backings!

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.
Grandma Moses

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