is extra backing necessary?
 

Is it necessary to have extra backing when quilting on a domestic sewing machine if I pin well near the edges before beginning quilting? Thanks!

To be on the safe side, it is important to have at least a little extra backing.

It is quite possible that the top and batting shifts during the quilting process so yes, a little extra can save your bacon.

I have always used at least 6" (3" per side, top and bottom"). I hand baste and still get shifting. I have always been glad that I had that little extra, I have always needed at least some of it.

So do you think an inch would be sufficient? or ____ more?
I'll just stitch-in-the-ditch so there wouldn't be the sideways or circular movements that are probably part of FMQ'ing.
Thank you SO much

How much extra you need depends in part on how large the quilt is. An inch extra on each side would likely be sufficient for a lap size quilt or smaller. I would leave two inches on each side for anything larger than that. A lot depends on the level of risk you want to take in terms of running out of space if things shift.

Another thing that affects shifting is the batting you use. Polyester batts are more slippery than cotton or wool and tend to shift more.

Basting method can also affect shifting. I have gotten the least shifting with spray basting; more shifting with pins and thread basting.

Edit: I should add that pinning the edges well will not affect how much the layers shift. If you get to an edge and you run out of batting before you run out of top, it won't matter if the edges are pinned. Pinning the edges simply protects against things such as the backing inadvertently getting folded back while you are quilting.

Edit 2: Actually, running out of batting isn't the worst problem; you can always add a strip of batting to an edge. It's running out of backing or top that creates a bigger issue.

I give myself 3 inches on each side.

in short, yes. It feels like a waste until that one time that you realize why you need it. The extra material is great for scrap quilts. no waste.

YES! Yes! Yes!

Wow, THANK YOU ALL!! You not only answered in detail but also explained why. I greatly appreciate your help.
What a wonderful resource you all are. There's no substitute for so much experience.

I try to have an extra 2-3 inches on all sides. You need more if you are using a thick batting. The top and bottom will always shift a little.

Don't be skimpy. I speak from experience. I didn't think it was all that important either until it was.

Yup, I know what you are saying....I also learned this the hard way!

Dina

I'll usually do about 2in on all sides but I spray baste & have had very little prob. with that amount. Any where from 3-6 in if I send it out (super queen/king).

I love this website for all the great advice you can get!

I always leave at least 3 inches, if little or no shifting, I can then trim it to 2.5inches and use it for binding something else or trim it and use it as sashing, its never wasted.

Yes, it is.

Make a small 12 by 12 sample . Now with walking foot do a few rows from the same direction every time on half of square.
Now do the Sam but do each row in opposite directions . You should see a difference on the sides the first will be showing walking creep.

Wow -- I'm sure glad I asked before plunging into the quilting. I'll add an additional 3 or 4 inches all around before beginning my quilting. Thanks, Everyone, for your experience-based advice on this. Since this quilt is a reversible king-size, it's worth 'spending' the extra fabric at this stage.

Is the excess necessary for hand quilting too?

The feed dogs pull the fabric though a sewing machine. This makes for the problem of the top and bottom not matching at the end of a long seam unless you pin a lot or hold the bottom fabric so that it isn't pulled up too much. The walking foot should help, but why take a chance? I'd definitely leave at least 2 to 3 inches extra all the way around the quilt.

Like Jan in VA said.......Yes Yes Yes. I learned this the hard way early on. I would leave at least 3 inches extra if doing a large quilt. I'd rather have extra after I'm finished than have to piece it because it came out too short (piecing after the fact is a pain in the rump :( )

It depends on your confidence and the size of the quilt. Lap quilts I use may just 3" larger but trust me, there is NOTHING worse than being short. The reason why you make the backing larger is because of the sandwich process. You put your backing down, then you put you batting which is usually larger. It is just easy when you put your top down, you don't always see the edges of the backing. I had a customer that made her backing of her queen size quilt the exact same size as the top. YIKES ! It took me twice as long but I was able to get it centered.

In my opinion, yes. Layers can shift when hand quilting with or without a hoop. Use the extra backing to cover the exposed batting edges; saves the batting from getting tattered as you work. You need extra backing even if hand quilting on a frame (where everything is attached to rollers, so you do not need to re-hoop). It helps with attachment to the rollers and also if you need to apply side tension to the quilt as you work.

So far, no one has mentioned school glue. If the layers are going to shift, they will do that while you are gluing it. Once the glue is dry, there is no more shifting. I've done king size quilts, and once in a while I have to add a little piece of batting to a side, but once it's glued on there, it's solid.

I've used Elmer's school glue on small projects...table runners and wall hangings, but haven't tried it on a quilt yet. So no need for extra backing when using school glue on a quilt?

I have found that if I use the Hobbs fusible batting I don't get that shifting around. I have quilted a twin size on my machine with barely an inch to spare. Not to say it couldn't happen but it depends on the method you use to baste your quilts.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by maviskw http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/...post-right.png
So far, no one has mentioned school glue. If the layers are going to shift, they will do that while you are gluing it. Once the glue is dry, there is no more shifting. I've done king size quilts, and once in a while I have to add a little piece of batting to a side, but once it's glued on there, it's solid.


I've used Elmer's school glue on small projects...table runners and wall hangings, but haven't tried it on a quilt yet. So no need for extra backing when using school glue on a quilt?

I have found this to be true. Very little shifting. Does that mean I cut exactly to measure, NO, why would you take the chance? But I do not leave 3 inches per
side.

Yes, it's important to have a little extra. I've found that quilting on your own home sewing machine only requires about 2" extra on each side. I know of some long arm quilters who want anywhere from 4" to 8" for the back.

I leave 2-3" on all sides and I still trim 99% of that off when finished. ;-)

I shortcut leaving 3 inches all around a queen size quilt once and thought I could keep it from shifting as I stabilized it by STID around the blocks. In the end one end shifted back about 1.5 inches and I had to piece in a section of batting and a section of backing. This was far more trouble than if I had left the proper perimeter to start with. When I completed my repair job an onlooker could not see it but it was sure a lot of extra work. It will never happen to me again. Be safe and use a bit of a safety margin and use the scrap for a scrap quilt.

Not really having anything to do with the subject but when grand daughter & I have to piece pieces of batting together for a project we call it "Frankensteining" lol, good for a laugh at the pain in the patooty work.:D

I give myself at least 4 inches Like other have said one screw up and you'll wish you have not c
heaped out.

I am always very frugal and occasionally skimp, but clearly it is better to cover your backside. What I have discovered is that if I have extra around the edges, once it's cut off it's great to use for binding on another quilt. So having a good 2" all around is actually less wasteful. Better to be safe than sorry. I have a Sweet Sixteen and rarely have much shifting. I would hate to have to add the large amounts needed for long arm setup, though. Fabric is just too expensive!

Alittle extra is best and yuou could baste around the edges

I like 2"-2 1/2", but I have worked with much less if that's the way the back turned out. No problem with shifting at all, but I did miss having something to grab when FMQ the border.