long arm quilting ?
 

I just need some practical advice. I know that this answer may vary from quilter to quilter. I promise that I am not going to use anyone's advice to argue with anyone else. How much bigger does the backing need to be when sending a top to a long arm quilter? In retrospect I should have considered this before now. I specifically ordered wide backing so that I wouldn't have to piece the back (I've had enough of a challenge with the top). I ordered extra fabric so that I would "have enough" for back and borders... I cut the borders incorrectly....now I will only have about 9 inches extra top & side (total 9 on side/9 on top.) Is this even "workable"? If I am going to need to order more fabric, I may reconsider my borders. Does this make sense at all? I really don't know what I am talking about. Thanks!

Most of the ones I have seen require 8" wider/longer than the top.

I think you should ask your LA quilter for her requirements. Mine says 3-5" extra on all 4 sides, but I am guessing they vary.

Your quilt back should be fine.

I would think it would be fine, most I've seen (and needed myself) is 3-4" on all sides. BUT check with your LA as it will depend on what kind of leaders and side clamps she/he is using.

I just brought one to an LA that required 4" (it's too big for my frame). I was able to find 115" fabric which meant I would only have 3.5" on the sides and she was OK with that.

if your LAQ needs more, ask them if you can sew temporary extra width/length

As Jeanne says, you need 3-5" extra on all four sides. The reason the longarmer needs the extra is to allow pinning to the roller canvases top and bottom. On the sides the extra is needed to allow for clamping the sides to hold the quilt taut(but not too taut). I have quilted even if the sides of the backing are exactly the same measure as the top but it can be tricky as you have to sew very carefully around the clamps.
So, it sounds like your 9" top and side(giving you 4.5" each on four sides) will work fine.

By-the-way, if you are ever short of fabric on an edge you can add a strip of scrap fabric that can be removed later. With this method you do need an inch of backing fabric to add the scrap strip to so you would not affect the top(otherwise you'd have to trim some of the top). I usually have enough extra beyond the top that I can just cut off the excess but sometimes I've so little extra backing beyond the top I had to remove the stitches of the scrap strip to release it. When I sew the scrape on I use a large stitch which will be easier to remove later. I don't like to do it this way but it has worked for me a few times and allows you to use the backing and not have to get another.

Oh my gosh, thanks for all the answers. I am so new to this that most of the time I don't even know what to ask until it's too late. I call all of that "lesson learned". I am relieved that my backing may work. I will speak specifically to the quilter when I find one. Thanks again!

Each longarmers requirements are different and from my experienced the answer is based on the actual machine. I have a voyager 17 and because of the size of the base and the size of my side clips, I can go with a min of 6" but like 8".

I have done what selm has suggested - added muslin to the sides and or top and bottom to get the distance I need.

Each long arm quilter has their own policy concerning this... It is best to contact the quilter you plan to send your quilt to and ask how much they require. I always ask for 5" all the way around ( so, a 70" X 80" quilt would require a backing at least 80" X 90"). But, I have had plenty of quilts come in with less (and a few with a lot more) different frames, leaders and the way a person does things all factor in So, only your quilter can tell you what you need

You are fine. I've cut myself short of the recommended 3" per side and (actually only had a combined 3" on the top and bottom) and didn't run short. I would never recommend anyone cutting it that close I was lucky and will never temp fate again.

I depends on how experienced the LAQ is. The newer quilters need more to get the quilt center while others that have lots of experience may only need 4" on each side.

My personal preference is 5" per side to allow room for:
1. Attaching to leaders and clamping sides
2. to allow room for an out of square quilt top
3. To have room on the side to test tension
4. If using my ruler base I need the extra room on the sides so my ruler base doesn't interfere with my side clamp. In cases where I have received too narrow a backing I have to remove the clamp while quilting close to the edges.

That said I have had plenty of backs come through that give me MUCH less. I think the least I had was 2" per side. On that one I was forced to sew a strip of my own fabric to the back so I had room top to bottom for my leaders as 2" was just not enough and the sides allowed me darn little wiggle room. I did it but I was not a happy camper.

Contact your LA quilter and ask what her preferences are. In most cases it is fine to simply sew some strips of muslin or any scrap fabric you have to get up to the needed size for attaching to leaders and side clamps. Just make sure you tell your quilter that you did that only to get the backing up to size and you don't want any of it incorporated into the finished quilt. I think all but the very greenest of LAQ can accommodate that.

You will be fine with 9 inches. The requirement , at least for me, is 8" which gives me 4" all the way around. We need room for clamps and head room at the top, you're fine!

That would work for me. The sides could even be less. If the length is too short to load, I add a strip both on the top and bottom but this is an extra charge.

I think the minimum is 4" on each side

I was always told by my LAQ that it needed to be 4" on all sides. Now that I am doing my own, that is my rule of thumb also.

Mine - 4" each side.

I think you will be fine. Ask the longarmer.

I ask for an extra total of 6" to each dimension (example...40x60 top = 46 x 66 backing). The backing size is also the batting size needed.

Nan

I ask for 3-4" extra on all sides and charge extra if I have to use some muslin strips to get there. If the owner wants a higher loft (poly) bat, I definitely need the 4" as it seems to pull up the top more.

One reason given for the extra is needing to square up the back. I love using wideback (no seams to bump or design to match up,etc) but ask that the store rip and not cut, the wideback when you buy it. Or buy at least a 1/4 yd extra as it is notoriously off grain and a square back sure makes a better quilt!