Need Help with Quilt Backing
 

Is there a formula regarding how much fabric is needed for quilt backings? My brain just isn't working right to figure this out. I apologize in advance. I have a top that is approximately 86X86. I am trying to figure out how many yards I need to use for a backing for it. I found 3 yds of 42 inch fabric I would like to use but I cannot figure #1 if I have enough fabric, and #2 how to cut it and piece it together to make it. Any help is appreciated and even maybe point me in the right direction to find out how to do this.

here is a chart from Bonnie Hunter's site
<cite class="_Rm">quiltville.com/pdf/Backing%20Yardage%20Charts%20-%20Qltville.pdf</cite><cite class="_Rm">
and a calculator arom Quilter's Paradise http://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/C...Calculator.php
</cite>

Thank you Nan! My family on my dad's side are all from Buffalo. Love the area and of course Niagra Falls.

Robert Kaufman has an app that does backing and batting, piece count, pieces to yardage, binding, border yardage, square in a square and set-in and corner triangles. I use it all the time. Very user friendly!

Thank you Carslo, that is great!

I think you'll find that three yards is certainly not enough to make a backing for an 86 x 86 quilt.

If you are sure you want to piece a backing rather than find a wide fabric, this graphic might help.
You'll need TWO lengths of fabric each cut 2 & 5/8 yards long, with an insertion strip at least 7-8" wide x 2 & 5/8 yards long.

Jan in VA

*The piecing is turned this way to give the straight grain of the fabric to the sides of the quilt, in case you ever choose to hang it.*

For starters, you could figure out:
(1) the square inches of your quilt top
(2) the square inches needed for the backing
(3) and the square inches of the amount of other fabric you have.

Top: 86 x 86 = 7396 square inches

Size of backing needed: let's assume you are going to send it to a long-armer for quilting and you will need four inches extra on each side - (86 + 4 + 4) x (86 + 4 + 4)
94 x 94 = 8836 square inches

Potential backing fabric: 3 x 36 x 42 = 4536 square inches
3 times 36 inches (one yard) times the width of 42 inches

Not quite enough available - so no need to try to figure out how to cut it at this point.


For how much you will need: take 36 x 42 = 1512 (square inches in your yard)

Divide the amount needed for the backing by 1512

8836 divided by 1512 = 5.85 yards is the theoretical amount needed - but that would require some ridiculous piecing and not allow for shrinkage or wonky cutting.

There is a site, www.mywebquilter.com, that among other things, offers a wonderful quilt calculator. Very simple to use. I love it and use it all the time. Give it a try.

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate the time involved that each one of you spent to help me. Sandra