Quilt Backing Question
 

I have made a small (42 inch square) top for a child’s quilt and have the perfect piece of fabric for the back but the backing is exactly the same size as the top. I usually allow a 2 inch extra allowance when I come to make my quilt sandwich so I’m panicking a bit!

The top is made up of 5 inch squares, 5 x 2.5 inch rectangles and 1.5 sashing and I plan to ‘stitch-in-the-ditch’ when I come to quilt it. I don’t want to cut anything off the top as it would spoil the pattern.

Should I just pin the quilt sandwich with ever pin I own and hope the backing doesn’t move or is there anything else I can do to keep it in place?

You can try to baste it with washable elmers school glue then quilt it. Make sure you don't have large drops of glue. If you do have large drops o glue smooth them out first. Once you get it smoothed out dry it with a dry iron on cotton setting.

I would add fabric on all 4 sides of your backing piece to allow for "shrinking" of fabric as the quilting process does sometimes seem to eat fabric! Even though your outer border surrounding the backing piece is different fabric and maybe different color, I would choose something that would accent or coordinate with it. Just my humble opinion. It's your quilt!

I have had this happen and because I didn’t want it to be uneven on the backing should it shift some, I added a piece down the length and off center so that I didn’t have to worry about it staying in the center and then shortened my length of the back added a wide enough piece so that it would compensate for the needed length. Hope this makes sense. Good luck with your project.

This is what I was thinking. If you choose the right fabric for the strips, it could make the back really interesting too, and look like you did it on purpose instead of trying to solve a problem.

I would opt to put a border on the back . Your quilting will “shrink” the while thing by a little bit—perhaps just enough to cause shortage and aggravation.

Thank you for your suggestions.

I think I came up with the answer, in bed, at 1.00am this morning!

I remembered I had posted a link on this forum that showed how to add a facing instead of a binding. QB member ‘willferg’ had then added 2 links to an even better method.

So I think I will get the quilting done and see what happens with the backing. If it’s ok I’ll bind as normal but if it’s pulled back a little I’ll bind it.

I absolutely agree!!

Very little shrinkage or shifting when basting with Elmer's Washable School Glue, the old fashioned white one only. There is no shifting while quilting. And very inexpensive.
What I do:
Lay batting down, place backing down, line up as perfectly as you can, take your time, fold half of the backing back, drizzle or spot with the Elmer's, smooth any blobs and lines with your finger. Press with hot iron to help dry the glue and get the backing smooth. Fold back the other half of the backing, repeat.

Flip over what you have done so the batting is face up. Repeat with the top. Take your time. I usually allow the glue to dry overnight, an over abundance of caution on my part. Quilt as usual, bind as usual. Wash, dry, gift.

I totally agree about using the Elmer's washable school glue. I have been quilting close to 30 years and have struggled through many quilts to pin, baste, spray and stretch. I only just started using the Elmer's washable school glue and am already hooked!! I am still asking myself, what took me so long?". It has made all the difference.