First quilt?!! I just wish my current quilts looked as good! LOL I used to cut my backing at least 3" bigger than my top on all sides. I found out I was wasting a lot of fabric. I quilt on my own domestic Babylock Decorator's Choice machine. Now I cut it only 1 1/2 to 2" bigger. Best to go bigger until you find out how much you really need. Some quilting takes up more fabric than others, but I quilt only "just enough." I prefer to have the pieccing paatern stand out more than the quilting. Just my opinion.