Favorite affordable background fabric
 

What is everyone's favorite white or cream background fabric? I'd like to get some yardage to have on hand. Are there any good online deals going right now for it?

Kona snow is my go-to background white.

I buy cream Kona from Hobby Lobby.

I keep my eye on Connecting Threads. They have yardage at $3.50 to $4.00 a yard on sale. 108" backing is on sale now for $11.50.

Thanks! I hadn't thought to look there.

I bought a bolt of 108" wide nice muslin from Marshall's Dry Goods for $4.50 or $4.95 a yard. You might check them out, they have great prices and service.

I bought a bunch from "franks11" who is an ebay seller. Just contact him and tell him what you want and how much you are willing to pay. He was most accommodating to me. I got 20 different ones five yards each.; It was very cheap, but I don't remember now what it was, I'm thinking $3.45.

I keepbolts of Moda muslin white, cream and unbleached on hand. Right now I'm working on a DWR using embroidery designs from Anita Goodesign using reds and blues scraps and pure white muslin as background. Also using up a lot of my batting scraps. Have everything cut out but ran out of batting scraps so will have to dig into the roll now. Only making 48 - 7" squares to make a lap size quilt for my recliner. Made up one to see if I like my arrangement and the white really makes the reds and blues pop. Sometimes I'll use the muslins for backing if its for a runner or table topper. Even have permaprest muslin and think I have a bolt of the extra wide muslin too. I prefer white on white or cream on cream most times for backgrounds though.

I purchase wide backing fabric mostly from fabric dot com they have fabric from 90” up to 120” wide in many colors and designs. When I want a solid the cotton sateen really highlights quilting in a beautiful white

I tend to keep a variety of WOW patterns and watch for great sales that discount with the more yardage you buy. Fabric.com is good about that. I try to keep at least 3-4 yards of any single print. Enough to do an entire quilt or sometimes 2.

Northcott Colorworks Premium 9000, I buy it from fabric.com by the bolt. I keep a white and an eggshell.

I really like using the lighter Moda grunges. They’re like white or beige but with a little something more interesting. Since I started using the grunge fabric, the solids like Kona solids seem a little flat to me. Some are available in 108”. Hancock’s in Paducah has decent prices.

I recently bought some white kona cotton and really find that it is one of my new favorite background fabrics. I prefer cream background when I am working on a pattern with Civil War fabrics. Also, I made a wall hanging for my grandson and used a light grey grunge fabric and that was so nice to work with. Oh heck, I like them all!! :). If it is fabric I like it.

I like the off white, tan or dove grey backgrounds. I also have seen light blue that was very pretty. I suppose any pastel would work if the other fabric you are working with has a strong color hue. The antique country mostly have a muslin or off white background and sometimes black or navy blue.
I suppose what I am saying is, use what is best for your design you have in mind.

Battle Axe
Do you know how I can find seller franks11 on ebay? I tried to put it in the search bar, but it didn't take me there. Any help would be appreciated.

I often purchase whole bolts from JoAnn's of a white on white. I have one that is a favorite that is a really small floral, but I have used stars, dots, and small scrolls. Of course, I watch for coupons and it is just a thrill to dip into my bin of whites/creams and find all I need to start or finish a project. From time to time I will purchase JA, highest thread count white muslin.

Thank you everyone for the ideas of where you are finding good backings are a bargain price.

When Joann's has 60% off coupons I stock up by purchasing a bolt of Kona Snow.

You have to enter it as searching for a seller not a store. I found it that way. You can find it using advanced search.

I keep Optical White and Canvas (both RJR fabrics) on hand. I usually buy 10 yards at a time but thinking I might get a better deal with bolts. I also have a few precuts (jelly rolls and layer cakes) in each. Plus odds and ends when I find a good sale.

For inexpensive plain backing I like 108” unbleached or tea dyed muslin. I’ve found it at JoAnn fabrics but others carry it as well.

Dream Cotton from Marshall's Dry Goods. I buy it by the bolt. $2.45 a yard. I can't tell any difference from Moda Bella. Online the bolts are 25 yards. Dream Cotton comes in 108" in 15 yard bolts for $4.50 a yard. I live close so can find smaller yard bolts to buy. They are all mixed in. Reps don't have time to search for different size bolts so keep the 25 yard ones ready to ship. To buy a bolt call a rep. No tax ID needed. To buy yardage, order as normal.

I just checked and Marshall's is out of white, cream, black, gray, and most of the other colors of Dream Cotton. I was there in late February and the warehouse was full of the colors of Dream Cotton. Wow.

With so many people not working right now, I'm sure that's the case with a lot of stores. I know I've looked at several online stores that are out of all kinds of neutral solids.

I find I get a better deal buying backing fabrics and use them backgrounds or just parts of my blocks. They may seem expensive at $15-$25/yd but when you consider you're getting 3yds across x 1yd down, now its not so expensive.

I bought Moda cream and white in 108" wide from my LQS. Very nice fabric.

I like the extra wide fabrics for backings and or back ground fabrics. I used to keep it on hand but finally figured out it is easier just to order it when I need it, then I get the correct amount and the color I need.)

My first go to is Marshal Dry Goods, their prices are very good, they are fast service, and I have never been disappointed with their fabrics. And then it is Fabric.com - for the same reasons. (I do like to buy my fabric so that it can be washed and dried before the quilt is put together.) The place I use for quilting thought it was funny when I bought her fabric, then took it home and washed it. But I was going to be doing the binding and the chemicals on fabric destroys my fingers and fingernails, so she understood. Not sure why the batting doesn't bother me hands - but it's probably because I don't hold onto it like the cotton fabric.