JanTx

When I have to piece a backing horizontally I used to trim off the selvedg as carefully as I could and then sew my 1/2" seam. The results were "iffy" at best as to how straight my cutting had been. Now I leave the selvedge on until after I sew the seam - using a seam allowance that is the width of the selvedge plus 1/2". This works so much better for me! When I told my BQF (best quilty friend) about this she informed me that she's been doing it this way for a while. So ... in case I'm not the last one on the planet to figure this out ... here's to straighter seams!

I prefer larger backings and seam vertically when I can, but ... lately they seem to all come out better horizontally. I quilt them myself on my domestic machine.

Tink's Mom

Good info...

I've been doing it this way, too...never even thought about trimming first. I do lots of things wrong with quilting, but I am self taught...no lessons for me..

Sewnoma

If the quilt is made with love, you didn't do it wrong!

Scissor Queen

I may give this a try next time. I always snip and rip the selvedges off.

Holice

Have you tried John Flynn's method of cutting and piecing the back on the diagonal. Sure saves fabric.

Pinkiris

Holice-- Try as I might, I can't make sense of the John Flynn method! Maybe you could clue me in to what I'm missing? Seem like it makes no sense to cut fabric diagonally, sew it back together and it's LARGER??? I don't get it...

Tothill

Great tip. I had not thought of it and appreciate your posting.

AliKat

John Flynn's method only works if the height and width are within certain rations.


ali

Tashana

If the salvage is not printed but the same color as fabric I don't even cut it off. The width of the seam is the width of the selvage. Done!

Deborahlees

The main idea to this method is the seam on the roller is NOT all in the same place, which can cause a major problem when you roll the backing onto the roller. By cutting and having the backing on the angle, that backing seam is spread evenlly across the roller....Hope that makes sense