backing fabric
 

Do you prefer to buy "real" backing fabric, or do you piece the backs of your quilts? I have done both, but I am wondering if one is "preferred." I realize either works. I have rarely bought backing fabric, as I have found it expensive. I did notice last weekend that Hobby Lobby now carries backing fabric, and not just the wider muslin like they had before. I may be using my coupon and splurging more on the wider backing fabric.

So, that is my question. Do you lean towards the wider backing fabric or do you piece the backs...or do you prefer one more than the other?

Just curious, I guess, and I realize it doesn't make any real difference. :)

Dina

I have always bought the wide backing although I have several 8 plus yards of fabric that I have bought at yard sales and such and will cut and sew to make a large backing piece.

I check my stash and often that is one reason I buy extra yardage.

I have done both, it just depends upon the quilt, it's purpose, where it is going and my budget. If I have the coordinating fabric, I love to do a little piecing in the back to add interest and 'tie it together'. If I am pressed for time or budget constrained, I like to buy used cotton sheets from the thrift store and use them for a back--can't beat $3 for a back. Other times if I don't have any inspiration, I use a wide muslin backing with no seams.

This is also my way--depends on the situation. I do often buy wide flannel backing (I make LOTS of flannel quilts); the piecing seams on the back can be a little bulky sometimes, depending on the number and placement of seams on the top.

I recently bought some wider muslin for backing, but that is the only time I've used wider fabric for backing. Some quilts seem best backed in one fabric, while others lend themselves to a pieced backing. I do enjoy doing a bit of piecing for the back when appropriate. But I also love a plain muslin back when it seems most suitable.

I love piecing my backs with leftovers from the top plus fabric pulled from my stash, if needed to bring it to the proper size. It's fun to put the puzzle together and it makes for an interesting surprise when you flip it over.

It really depends on the colors or theme of the quilt top I am making simply because colors of the backing fabric are limiting and sometimes the theme or the print just does not want to blend with the top. Another thing that helps me decide is if i have a collection of coordinating fabric to do the top and i know i have enough yardage of one that can be pieced for the backing, i prefer to do that even if i can find backing color to match my top, I'd rather use the same collection.

When I have a quilt custom quilted, I use a wide backing of a solid or near solid color. The back of the quilt looks like a whole cloth quilt.

I do both as well. And many times I will do a completely pieced back (basically a double sided quilt) with leftovers from the front, supplemented by stash. However, given a choice, I really like the convenience of wide backing. And it really is not more expensive. Most the time I can find it on sale for around $10 Per yard. When I go to Mennonite shops I have picked up wide muslin for $6. But even at full price it is usually more cost effective to buy the wide back.

For example, A Queen size quilt measuring 90 x 100 would require a minimum purchase of 6.75 yards of 44" wide fabric at $7 per yard. This is assuming 3 seams and also assuming the WOF is really 44". I am seeing more and more fabric measuring at 42" or less in width once you cut selvage off. At $7 per yard it will run you $47 (rounding to nearest whole dollar). We are not taking into account your time and effort to cut it down as needed and sew it back together. You will need even more if you are sending to a LAQ who needs extra backing to attach to leaders.

However, you would only have to buy 2.75 yards of wide back at $15 per yard so the cost is $41.25 and you will have enough left over to make binding and add to stash and the added bonus of not having to cut it or seam it. AND the extra length is already there for a LAQ but you might need to buy more for the width to adjust side clamps so even if you upped to 3 yards it still comes to a tiny bit less ($45) than the standard width stuff.

Usually when I make a quilt I buy flannel to match the front and I don't buy it until the quilt is finished. I have bought the extra wide fabric and it is a lot more difficult to iron, even with my wide ironing board.

I agree with Jeanne. If the quilt has a lot of seams like in a bargello, I prefer a backing that doesn't have any piecing. But on charity quilts, I try to use up what I have left over from the donated fabric.

I love to come up with a design for the back myself, so mostly will use leftover fabric from the top. If there is something that has a nice big print, will often use that for the back if I don't have a good idea, or no leftovers. I've never bought backing fabric.

If I had loads of money, I would go for the 108" wide fabric. I love the look of a back that is one big piece, whether it matches the front or not, I just think it's pretty.

As I rarely make quilts as large as the backing fabrics cover, I usually piece my backings from my stash.
When I *do* buy backing fabrics, there is much left over that can be used for piecing blocks or other even other backs. That just adds again to the stash!

Jan in VA

I am currently stalling on finishing a great quilt because I am balking at paying more for backing :)

Both here as well If I have leftover fabric that matches and the top is not too seam intensive, I might get the bug and piece the backing. If on the other hand, its a Bonnie Hunter mystery such as Celtic Solstice- all bets are off and off I go to find a nice wide back that matches! Gets me to quilting faster!

I really like the wide backings, but I'm also trying to use up the "unloved" gaudy fabrics I've purchased over the years from the sale bolts. I usually don't care if the back coordinates with the front.

I find a pieced backing is a good way to use leftovers from the front. Also, it's a good way to get rid of those "What was I thinking?" fabrics. Somehow they seem to be OK as the backing.

I prefer to use the wide backings, if possible. Check out marshalldrygoods, carolinacottoncompany, and backsidefabrics--their prices are very reasonable. I agree with felinefanatic that it is cheaper in the long run (and much less time-consuming) to use the wide fabrics.

If I have enough left over material I piece the backing. I really love pieced backings. Next I go to my stash to see if I have something that will work. I don't always use a coordinating material. Sometimes I like a surprise when the quilt is turned over.

I made a Christmas quilt for my sister and pieced the back. Now I'm second guessing because I think it looks like I was too cheap to buy backing fabric. I used left over fabric, left over blocks and embroidered the label right onto the back. I did have enough to make the binding all red. I love the pieced bindings but didn't want to piece both backing and binding. Hope she likes it.

Me too, though I always seem to gravitate to a fabric used on the quilt top, and piece if necessary. On my Mom's birthday quilt I had to use every last scrap to make it wide enough for the long armer. I thought it came out cute though, as the front was all churn dash blocks.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=497161&stc=1

I prefer a pieced backing. It makes the quilt reversible. Two for one.

I use which ever one goes with the top I made. The last thing I would ever think about is, was I too cheap to_______ (fill in the blank)!

I too like the backing fabrics but if I can't find just the "RIGHT ONE" to go with the quilt plus if I have a lot of scraps or block sections leftover I'll piece the backing. I hate to have leftovers and with the price of fabrics these days can't waste them. I find the pieced backings give character to the quilt on both sides.

Also I found a really nice backing fabric in a sateen at my local fabric shop. Don't know how many colors it comes in but I know white, beige and blacks. I find buying backing fabrics are most times cheaper than regular fabrics if you consider you're getting 3+ yards across for the price per yard down. The sateen has a nice sheen to it and drapes beautifully. Just made a quilt using all my black scraps from the sateen. Liked it so well I went back and bought more along with their white.

I have always used wide backing fabric not muslin, usually I buy Kona or the pretty backing fabrics. However, if I'm making the quilt for a child or someone who likes scrappy then that's the backing they get. I was taught never to use sheets but now that is acceptable.

I like the wide backs. I usually buy them thru Marshall's Dry Goods. Good prices between $7.99 and $8.99 per yard only draw back is you have to buy in yard increments.

I get wide backing on sale. If you multiply the yardage needed on the 44" fabric (usually need like7 yards) vs the 108" wide (3-1/2 or 4 at most) I find the cost is comparable. Wider is easier!!

tough question because I have both pieced backs and used backing fabric. It depends on the quilt I'm making, and, sometimes, whether I feel like spending $ on backing, sometimes because I feel compelled to use my stash. On occasion, fabric has "spoken" to me and inspired a pieced back, other times it's pieced because i cut the backing fabric wrong.

For inexpensive backing, go to Marshall Dry Goods. You can get nice backing for $7.99 a yard. I've tried it and the fabrics are good, at least the ones i bought were.

I usually get kona solids when they are on sale 50% at Joannes (or I have a 50% off coupon). I have also used the wide backings. Depends ont eh project..

I like my back to coordinate with the front and match the binding. The more quilts I make the more I prefer everything to look integrated. Ideally I have a bit of the backing and binding fabric incorporated in the front.

I might be a little out of date but my preferred backing is a muslin white backing for everything but baby and kid quilts. I also do not like a lot of puff in my quilting. I say that my "style" is more traditional or retro.

It has been very interesting reading what every one does I rarely have used the wider backing, but I think I will start doing that more. Knowing that Hobby Lobby has a nice selection will make it easier. That store opens half an hour earlier than Hancocks and an hour earlier than the local quilt store. That makes a difference to me. I like to shop before most folks are out. :)

Dina

Has anyone else noticed that some backing fabric is thinner and of lesser quality than regular quilting fabric? Sometimes it even differs within color/ patterns of same brand. iMHO

But only muslin comes in wide widths, right? Along with fleece and utility fabrics, of course. So are you talking about plain muslin, or is there wide fabric that's got a print on it?

I tend to use what I have which may include older yardage that I have to piece, left overs from the quilt or new cotton sheets (I have a small hoard that I`ve collected over several years, all less than $10 a sheet). They all quilt equally well on my Juki and the ones I send to my LA èr have collected no complaints either. I would hate to go out and just buy yardage as most quilting fabric in my part of Southern Ontario is $15 a metre and the wide backings run between $15-$24 a metre which makes a backing for a King sized quilt expensive.

It is really up to you and what you prefer. I guess it depends on who it is for, if you are going to sell it, etc. I do all 3 methods mentioned. Pieced, wide backing but mostly for the larger quilts, I use a 90 wide muslin, that I order from Jo Ann's, it is Legacy Studio and sells for about 8/9 dollars a yd. I really like this muslin.

No, there are other widebacks--flannel, sateen and other cottons. When long arming I prefer a wideback as you don't worry about front/back seams causing a bump in the machine tracking. Plus the wideback, once squared, stays that way on the frame and lays smoothly. And the cost is about the same, or even less, than using LQS fabrics pieced.
As with ALL backings, widebacks need to be squared up before quilting. And some, especially the thinner muslins or flannels, should be washed before use due to shrinkage. One complaint with piecing backs I've run into, is that it seems that quilters sometimes piece together a "hodge-podge" of left over fabrics--many these are not squared up and sometimes have the cross and long straight of grain mixed, so that the stretch that occurs while on the long arm (or even under the DMS foot) can leave pucker possibilities. The only backs that I've had pucker/tuck problems with have been pieced with these issues. So if you are going to piece chunks of fabric together, I'd suggest that you be sure to square the pieces as you cut, to seam with the grain matching (cross OR length-wise) and remember that your backing acts like the foundation on a building--if it's not "solid" the top will be distorted.