108” fabric
 

Has anyone ever cut a piece off of a 108” width and attached it to the same piece on the length? Is there any noticeable difference visually?

I think only if it was directional print would anyone notice. ?

That is what I am hoping….I hate to go buy it and find out different. Luckily I will be buying beige so hopefully it will work out.

It would be on a fabric by fabric basis. Part of what makes quilting fabric what it is, is an even weave so we should be able to turn it one way or the other. But if there is any sort of treatment or coating, (including on the threads that are woven) it can reflect differently. Sort of like corduroy up one side and down the other. If you can see it on the bolt, simply turn back a corner and get back about 6 feet and look at the turned up corner compared to the fabric still wrapped around the bolt.

But any difference (if any at all) is likely to be very subtle and this is the back we are talking about. I think you will be ok. To help hide seams, if you can, choose a print.

I do it all the time, I haven't noticed a difference.

Some do, some don’t. My suggestion would be to lay the bolt on a counter at the fabric shop, unroll a couple yards and lay a width-wise piece on top of the length-wise piece to check before you buy.

I piece backing all of the time like you suggested. Honestly, after the quilting is done that extra seam to extend the length or width, seldom shows.

I've also done that as well as piecing width and length pieces together, seems fine to me. Maybe a member of the quilt police, along with a magnifying glass could spot it; but after it is quilted I don't think so.

Lengthwise yarns are stronger and more stable. That means less shrinkage in comparison to widthwise yarns. So, instead of risking different shrinkage rates, preshrink your 108" fabric and it should work fine, assuming it won't make any difference to the fabric's pattern.