How do you back your charity quilts?
#21
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
I purchase wide backing fabric from fabric dot com. Free shipping and they have some great budget wide backs- 108” wide . I usually purchase 3 yards of each I’m getting can easily back 2 quilts plus have some fabric to add to my shelves- or use for binding.
#23
Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 13
I agree with Iceblossom, just because the cost of the fabric is cheaper doesn't necessarily mean the fabric itself is cheaply made and won't last. I've use sheets, and wide muslin all the time and they haven't fallen apart yet. Of course, we don't want to spend time, a lot of money and energy on a quilt that will fall apart, but I see nothing wrong with getting the fabric on sale or by the bolt to get a better price, so that you're not spending boo coo bucks making quilts that are going to be donated, and for the fact that you don't even know if they'll be appreciated and taken care of. I'm sure that the people who make charity quilts don't make them to fall apart and use ugly fabrics, just because the fabric is cheap, we all make them for someone to love, whom we don't even know, just to let them know that someone cares.
Last edited by pocoellieagain; 06-20-2021 at 08:38 AM.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,480
I know I am probably in the minority, but why is anyone trying to make charity quilts that are made from cheap, ugly shoddy material? Why would anyone want to be the recipient? I see all the time where the goal seems to be to crank out the maximum number of boring patterns with ugly lousy material. Why? Would you be honored to have that on your bed? “Charity” quilting to me seems often to be a lot more about bat-packs for moral superiority than for making something special someone will truly love.
#25
Not always but sometimes I will use bed sheets. Twin sheets for the size quilts you are making should do it and with less cost. I also watch for sales at JAF with the bleached Muslin. I will buy a bolt at a time and it last a very long time. I also watch fabric.com because they too offer some good sales.
The other place I look is in my stash where I can sew a panel on the back and then piece together the backing using 45" wide fabrics. My stash gets a lot of charity quilt work.
The other place I look is in my stash where I can sew a panel on the back and then piece together the backing using 45" wide fabrics. My stash gets a lot of charity quilt work.
#26
In general you get a better deal buying 108” wide than with 44” wide fabrics. I like https://www.connectingthreads.com/ backing fabrics selection and they have sales fairly often.
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: lexington ky
Posts: 1,418