I agree. I would tear it. It will then be torn along the straight grain. It's no different thatn when you purchase fabric specifically made for backing..."please tear" is printed on the end of the bolt. So, I definitely would tear it. Have dont it many times myself.

How far are you from your LQS? If it isn't too far, I'd call and ask if I could borrow the facilities to cut the backing to size --arrange to be there when they have slow time (normally) LOL Probably guarantee they'll get a busy day of sales and cutting! LOL I am lucky to be close enough to take my huge projects there to cut to manageable size. Bless the LQS ladies and gents who help[ us turn that unending width and length into the perfect back!

why the no seam down the center --- I mean you have pieced the front and there are seams so what difference would the placement of a seam on the back of long arm quilting make? Trying to understand and my LA friends aren't online at this time of the a.m. In fact I think Kim is in Tacoma at a show.

I had never heard of no seam down the middle either until my neighbor who is a professional seamstress came to help me with backing and told me this.
The reason is too much stress on the one seam.
You need to use 3 panels if its a big quilt.
I don`t worry about this for baby or lap.
Hope this explains it.
Gale

I would either leave it to trim after quilting, or if it's really really big, fold, press the fold a bit and cut with scissors down the length. You'd be cutting it bigger than your quilt top anyway, so it doesn't have to be *perfect* since you'll be trimming it anyway.

I guess I still don't see it if one is having enough quilting done to more than tack the top to the back. I do know that my method of flat fell seams causes too much bulk along the seam area so have changed that unless I am hand quilting,

I've been longarm quilting for only a year (4 quilts - 1 big one and 3 smaller). I, too, didn't know about this "rule". I had one seam down the middle of all and it didn't seem to matter. Course, time may show that I should have done 2 seams.

I don't tear my fabric, either....I hate the strings that seem to be more prevalent when tearing.

You have to remember to leave 4-5 inches on each side of the quilt for a Longarm quilter...... if you tear, you may run into a bad situation if the tear goes askew and you end up with 1" along the quilt.

I don't trust my measuring...so, I lay my backing out on the floor, lay my top on top of it, then I mark with a sharpie where I want it cut. Then I fold neatly and leave about 1 foot unfolded....on the end that was marked. Then you can lay it on a smaller table to cut. I've cut as much as 6 layers this way. Yes, you may get an uneven cut, but if you're leaving plenty of extra fabric, it can be dealt with.

I would also fold and cut. Good luck!

donot forget to leave extra on sides so you have a little that will be taking up by quilting

I can't quite wrap my head around this...can you explain more? :oops: