Originally Posted by MTS
oops, actually, I had really intended to upload this image instead.
sorry.
The first cut can go either way, but the main goal being to keep the seams away from the center or quarter-line in either direction - as these are most commonly used to fold a quilt.
This reply has taught me so much! My quilting instructor never told me why she didn't like to put seams down the middle of the quilt. Had she explained it as you did, I could convince my Mom not to sew two pieces of fabric together vertically for the back. Will pass this on to her with hopes she'll reconsider her backing.