Help! I have a mental block when trying to figure out how to cut my fabric for piecing a back. Quilt measures 45 x 60 inches and my fabric is 120 x 42 wide. Any suggestions?

if you cut a piece 96" long, cut on the diagonal (from top left to bottom right) then slide them down so it gets wider, when it's 55" wide, flip it over tight sides together and seam it with 1/2" seam, it will be 4" wider and longer than your top on all 4 sides.

That means I will have approximately 24" left over from my original piece?? Also, my backing will have a diagonal seam? Correct? I have never seen one done this way but it sounds logical.

Interesting approach, Kathy! I'd never considered doing it that way.

http://www.multi-patch.com/html/diag...calculator.php

Yes, you have 24 inches left, but you can use it for binding.

That is an interesting concept Kathy. This is the size of quilt I make for charity so usually I just sew any leftover blocks or fabric to increase the width of the fabric. You can sometimes get very creative:

Many years ago I tried the Flynn formula for calculating a diagonally-pieced backing. I came up "short" by a few inches, so pieced a center diagonal design with extra blocks. It was fine, but I wished I had just found a backing fabric to used instead. This calculator is great. I've saved it for future reference.

Depending on how much "extra" you need - I did a small quilt with only one inch extra - so for your quilt, I would have had 46 x 61 - but that is cutting it waaaaay too close.

If it is going to be long-armed, you probably will need to have something at least 53 x 68 (4 inches extra on each side)

If it were mine, I would cut the long length into 53 inch sections (or whatever length you need) , and sew them together, then cut off the excess. The seam would go across the short length of the quilt and would be off-center (which I think is preferable to a center seam, anyway).

I would straighten one of the ends before starting to cut - either by tearing (cringe) or by pulling a thread - and then measuring from the straightened point.

I usually tear my backing fabric to the correct length. Then I tear that piece in two, slightly off center and insert a strip of contrasting fabric to re-join them to get the correct width. It offers some visual interest on the back. I've also done it the way Maniac2 does by using some orphan blocks in the backing.

The diagonal calculator looks useful if you have a space big enough to lay your fabric out so you can cut it on the diagonal.

Rob

rryder - that is exactly how I do it. A great use for those orphan blocks and "ripping" works for me.