Okay ... I know technically I'm supposed to have what - 2 - 3" extra when I back my quilt. Can anyone tell me why? I always get irritated when I have to cut so much fabric down - to me it's a waste and now I have unwanted scraps! (Not to mention the few extra $$ that it winds up costing.)

So ... any good reasons for keeping doing this?

TIA!
Beverly

It's just so you can quilt right up to the edge of your quilt top. If the backing were already cut off, you wouldn't have anything to hold on to or to clamp in a hoop.

If that's the only reason ... I can now safely alter how much I keep to the side! Thanks!

Bev: I'm no expert but I think that's because when you quilt the body of your quilt it can "shrink up" your backing and batting and you wouldn't want to have areas that aren't backed. I agree tho that sometimes it seems like a waste of fabric but I'd rather have that extra to cut off than have to add more fabric to an already quilted quilt back.
I save all the fabric that's left because I can cut them easily into 2-3 inch strips for future use.
Maybe someone else here can give you more info-this is just my humble 2 cents worth.
Oh, the extra hanging out the ends also makes sure that your binding will have batting in it too I think.

I tend to use the backing as the binding as well. I've been told that this is "old-school", but it's the way my family has done it.

If you are using separate binding, just cut off the extra & save it for other quilt/sewing projects. :)

Hi Beverly...

I actually add a good 4" to each side when I cut my backing and here's why...

1. When you quilt with a walking foot, the foot pushes out the quilt top a bit so it looks like the back is shrinking, when really the top is growing a bit...

2. If I'm going to be quilting for a long time I wrap the backing around to the front to protect the edges as I pull it in and out of my machine.

I've been trying to work down my stash a bit, so a lot of times now, I'll piece the back. Nothing fancy just a bunch of squares or rectangles, or I cut lengthwise grain strips (wide) from several fabrics (so I have a lot of use-able fabric of each left) and piece those together to make the backing. I use 1/2" seams and press them open.

I know what you mean, even though my stash is pretty embarrassing, I still hate to just waste the fabric.

Julie

I ask my customers to make their backing & batting 8" wider & 8" longer than the top. Often backings need to be properly squared up. Plus, the excess allows for distortions that can take place during the quilting process, and to give some extra leeway for squaring up the entire sandwich when quilting is complete.

Many of my customers have me trim their quilts to within an inch and allow me to donate the left over pieces for charity quilts. Others like to keep the excess & use it in scrappy quilts. Little to no fabric ever goes to waste :)

I usually go 3 or 4 inches more so that when I cut it down I have enough for strips for a Log Cabin or maybe some small squares. Actually it is the batting that I don't like cutting so big.

I agree with this one 100%. There is so much you can do with the excess of fabric you cut off.

I use the backing as the binding too... Flip it over and only have to sew one side down.. It is the way my Granny taught me... :thumbup:

I learned the hard way to leave quite a bit extra material on the edges. After I quilted I had a corner that wasn't covered. I decided it would be good place for a label. The quilt was for my GS so I put a note on muslin and placed it over the bare spot.Walla, covered!

I cut my batting larger than the top but not as large as the backing so I don't have as much waste. The left-over backing goes into the scrap bin. Once I worked with a same-size top and back for a quillow and the back was off grain. It never went together right and looked like crap when quilted. So I'd rather have the backing oversized and allow for adjustments.

It's because when quilting the body of your quilt will shrink up.

I go wider also, the excess I cut off will not go to waste as I have a large enough piece for future squares... I don't like the 1-2 inch strips that I cut off my first few quilts.

I have the backing and batting afew inches bigger for squaring up after quilting. I love left-overs for scrappy quilts, and I use the left-over scraps of batting to stuff doggie and cat mats for the local no kill animal shelter.
pam

I think that is a WONDERFUL idea to use the batting for doggie mats at the shelter! We have a no kill shelter here in Maine near where I live. I am going to start doing that!

Those scraps are not waste, use them for scrappy quilts, I've made several Mile a Minute quilts with the long strips of scraps, that I have either given to family members or charities. They come out great. If you google Mile A Minute quilts you'll find some pictures, there are endless ways to use the blocks. My favorite is to alternate a white on white fabric block with the scrappoy block.
Also I save all the batting scraps & fabric scraps that just can't be used in quilts & stuff them into a simple denim or heavier type fabric pillow cover, sew the opening closed & donate them to the animal shelter for pet beds, the shelter loves them.

As well as all the other reasons mentioned, if you send it to a long arm quilter they need it for the clamps so it out of the way of the machine head and can go to the edge of your quilt. I round off/up and cut my backings total of 10inchs larger then the top. But I Love scrappy quilts:)

Many quilts shift slightly as they are being quilted, this will give it a little room.

I always make batthing and backing larger - I'd hate to get to the edge and not have enough of one or the other. I keep the 'leftover' backing for binding on the quilt or save it for another quilt. Works out well. The batting leftovers - well, I still need to find something to do with them - sometimes use them for table runners - as I have a whole bolt of batting and just make it big enough to make table runners...

I tend to make mine 3-4" wider than the top.

Narrow strips of batting can be very handy to use when making a tote bag/purse. It's much easier to handle to trim down than hauling out the roll or package of batting again. :)

Go ahead and leave just a little overhang. The best teacher is experience. I now know why I leave at least 4 inches overhang.

I make my backings about 2" larger all the way around - just in case. I use to leave more but, found I really didn't use that much more. When pinning my quilt sandwich together I pin at the very edge so there is no way it can stretch or move anywhere and it makes it easier and more accurate when I cut it to size for the binding to be attached. I quilt within about 1/4 - 1/2" from the pins and that makes it easier for me to hand stitch the binding to the backing. I use to flip the back over the front and sew that down for the binding, I stopped that.

I only have about 1-2 inches more .... just so I can make sure that all of the quilt top has a matching size back. Sometimes I fold the 1 inch overhanging backing over the top and do a quick huge basting stitch... to keep all my outer edges protected and they don't ravel as much. It's quick and easy to pull out when you get near the outer boarders. :mrgreen:

If you're going to send your quilt top out to be quilted, a longarm quilter would like at least 5 inches, preferably 10 inches larger backing and batting than the top. We have to use clamps and we need the extra yardage to attach to the leaders. After it's all quilted, it's nice to have some extra when you trim. It makes for a much straighter edge.

Cynthia

One of my students cut her back to small and didn't have any more material. She wanted to quilt it anyhow. I always trim the quilts for them. I had to cut 3" from her border to square up the quilt. I hated to cut throught that beautiful border. She is 93 and still quilting so I do what ever she wants. She told me she has to machine quilt now bc she is running out of time. She is a precious lady.

For reasons others have listed, I, too, make my batting and backing larger than the top. However, I save the batting carefully and in a specific box to keep batting together. Recently, I made four baby quilts using this method. I had enough batting left to use for the fifth baby quilt. Just overlap it a smidgen so there will not be a space between the pieces of batting. Silvia