Backing ???? from newbie
 

MY quilt is 65x72. Now I ordered 6 yds of material for the back 45 in wide. Is it better to cut it so it only has 1 seam down the middle or across with 2 seams????



PS Part of it is for borders on the front. Thanks Becky

Its your choice. Be sure and cut the selvedge off before you seam. Some might put two seams - 45" in the center and abut 12" on either side. But it is your choice. John Flynn's method of doing a diagonal seam works well. The instructions are on his web site.

Thank You.

it depends on how it is being quilted- if sending out to a long arm quilter she may not want one long vertical seam- a horizontal seam will lay flat along the take up roller- a long vertical seam builds up with each turn of the roller & causes floppy sides-
if you are quilting it on your domestic machine it is not a big deal how you piece it...anyway that works= that you like= that works with the print (if using a fabric besides a solid)

Whenever I piece a backing I sew the pieces together with a 1/2" seam and press them open. I quilt my own quilts on my 9" throat machine. I sew them as I please. works for me.

Did you know you can buy backing material in super wide widths? Wal-Mart (wallyworld) has some really nice fabric there.

From what I have heard and understand it depends on how you are going to quilt. As stated if you are going to send it out to a LAQ, I would ask them what they prefer.....if you are going to do FMQ on your own machine, I like to have a big piece in the middle with small piece on each side..... what ever you choose to do just make sure you make the backing oversized.....so much easier to trim latter then try to work with something too small....

Speaking of backing fabrics and walmart, I bought some nice 90" unbleached muslin in walmart for really good price. I like my quilts backed with muslin (many do not), and it is fairly inexpensive. I believe it was under $5 for 90" width.

What am I missing? It seems your fabric is wide enough, and long enough, that you could piece it with a single seam, either across or down (45+45 = 90 - more than wide enough for your widest edge). Then, the only consideration is likely how you are quilting. I understand that long armers prefer the seam to go across the back, rather than vertical. Makes the pieces roll better on the frame.

Editted to add:
Another thing to consider - how is it being used (now that I think I understand the 2 seam question). A bed quilt for a single bed, you wouldn't want to seam in the middle, because then that would be right on top of the sleeper. But if it's for a double bed being used for 2, then a single seam is best (between the sleepers) because seams closer to the edges would be on top of the people.

www.fabric.com has 108" backing for pretty good prices too. I don't like to have to piece the backs so usually buy backing from them.