running1

Hi all... my quilty friend and I had a lovely day today sewing... first on the quilt block challenge for the county fair (whew, glad that block is finished!)... then on our own projects. Here's my question, and it's an easy question for you I hope, but I really want/need to know??? Do I stay with a 1/4" seam on the two lengths of fabric I'm sewing together for the backing of a small quilt I've finished? It seems as though it should be a little deeper seam, but I really don't know? Thanks for helping!!

Scissor Queen

I use a half inch to a 5/8ths inch seam on my backing.

running1

thanks, Scissor Queen... your advice sounds great!! I'm off to finish this backing!!

kathdavis

I still use the 1/4" seam on the back because you are going to quilt it anyway. I didn't know you use a different size seam for the back.

AFQSinc

If the quilt is not being put onto a longarm is it necessary to have a wider seam on the backing? Is that the only reason for a wider seam or is there another reason? I've always wondered.

pinecone

I also sew 1/2" ish for the backing.

piney

Prism99

Aside from longarming, I think it depends a lot on the quilting. If you have a seam in the backing running the length of the quilt without quilting lines running over it periodically, then I would want a wider seam because of the additional stress the seam will be subjected to.

There really is no reason to use 1/4" seam on the backing anyway, unless possibly if you are handquilting (and even then it probably would make very little difference to a hand quilter).

tjradj

I use a 1/2" seam when joining pieces for a quilt back. But I take it a step further. I'll then grade the seam (cutting one smaller than the other) so that when I press them to one side, it avoids a big lump where you go over the three layers of fabric. If you press your seam open, then it doesn't matter about the grading of the seam allowance.

Gigi07

I use a 1/2" seam... just my preference!

QuiltnLady1

Ditto -- I like the wider seam for the binding. I also use a diagonal seam (Ala John Flynn. http://www.multi-patch.com/html/diag...calculator.php ) for smaller quilts since I am less likely to have the backing seam in the same place as any of my longer top seams.