Hi, I was wondering about the seam in the backing material. Do you center the seam on the back of the quilt or not?

I like it centered. If I quilt it on my longarm machine, the seam has to run crosswise.

I like it off-center. Bigger piece of leftover backing to piece with other fabric, binding, etc.

i like this suggestion :)

I go with what will annoys me the least. I sometimes buy the 108 backing just so I don't have a seam. If I decide to piece a back, I usually put the seam crosswise. It really bugs me if the seam is lengthwise and it isn't perfectly straight. If you decide to put it up the middle lengthwise, try to center the quilt top with pins and basting before quilting. I do like the backings that are pieced with lots of pieces and leftover blocks because it makes the quilt reversable. Backing construction is a personal choice, there are no right or wrong ways unless it is being judged for competition. Some competitions have rules about backing construction (quilt police). :-D

:?: :?: :?: why dose it have to be crosswise?

One piece for me, i have split it into three pieces.

With a lengthwise seam, you will get a bulky roll at seam because of extra fabric. It can distort the quilt.

i'm wondering why, i've never heard of that, and i longarm
too
if i only need less than 15" i do the jogn flynn diagonal seam and it works great

I suggest going with 108" fabric, that way there is no seam. A yard of 108" equals about 2 1/2 yds of 44". Sometimes it is cheaper to go with the 108" because its less expensive than the amount of 44" fabric you would need.

Say you're doing a king size that is 100 by 115. That would be 2 3/4 yds of fabric at say $15 yd, costing aprox $43. With 44" you would need three 44" pieces of 2 3/4 yds to cover it. or at $10 yd costing around $82.

We have quilters who buy the 108" and cut some off the use on the front, thereby tying the front and back together.

Backing is not just muslin any more either, it comes in many colors and shades.

Lanny

I don't center a seam on the back regardless if pieced length or width-wise. I've always heard that you don't want seams where a quilt will be folded as frequent folding tends to weaken the threads in a seam. It is easy enough to avoid by dividing into three sections, so I've done that when piecing. Or, to avoid the problem, I have used wide backing. Here's a really good article on backings that I've had bookmarked for a long time. You might find it useful..... http://www.reddawn.net/quilt/backings.htm

Lots of good information...

Another good article:
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/techni...lt-back_1.html

I just always used a center seam.

This is how I was taught ...... "creates less stess on the seams"

Depends on how you feel at the time you are creating. Remember that quilting is an art. Sometimes artists just go with the flow and do not follow any rules. Sometimes the fabric makes the decision. Remember you can't do wrong if it feels good.

Seam down the center means only ONE SEAM to me. So I go for that. Seams can get pulled apart. Lessens that.

GOOD QUESTION!
Julie

If it is lengthwise, when it rolls up, there become a huge build up of that extra fabric in the middle only. You really get a hump in the middle of the quilt on the roller and it makes the rest of the quilt floppy. If it is crosswise, it is spread out evenly all the way across and no hump.

It depends on the size of my top and what fabric I have available. I have run the backing on-center, off-center, both cross-wise and length-wise. The guideline is that a center match will have more wear and tear because of being folded in half. I found that to be not a problem for me.

Recently I started playing with the idea of back art and using left-over pieces.

I buy material that is wide enough to cover the back without any seams.

When I need to widen my quilt back I prefer to place the inserted piece or seam on a diagonal. If it were dead vertical it would become bulky as it was rolled up on the longarm roller and would distort the quilt back. Also, trying to get the seam in the center is an exercise in frustration. If it becomes just a little off while quilting, it will always look...a little off. So I deliberately make it off-center.
Some may say that the seam will get more wear when the quilt is folded in the middle. I try to fold my quilts in a different way every time, isn't that what has been recommended by experts? And folding a quilt in the same way turns the fold lines into permanent creases and can cause fabric damage over time.
Here's a pic of back art on a quilt I entered in the 7 Sisters show last month. Sorry the pic is so big.

yes in the cener. :thumbup:

I like it in the center, It just looks nice, and that's the
way I was taught also.

Your quilt back is really nice and I find the design very pleasing!

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I do center the seams. In case it is turned over, it just looks nicer, more finished, than not.

This is why I piece my backs with leftovers from the from!

I've never had to piece a back. I haven't made that many that would require it. On the ones that did, I used 108". If I had to I think I'd go with the diagonal seam. Makes the most sence to me.

As an afterthought, If I had to piece a back I would go with leftover blocks for more interest. Not centered, of course. I suppose there are many different way one could do it depending on that individuals thoughts. To each their own I guess.

I didn't even think about it. I sewed what I have together for the backing. There will be that seam in the back. Oh hell, now I have something else to worry about? I'm making this quilt for someone.

I usually buy flat sheet from walmart and use it for my backing.

You took the words right out of my mouth!
Alot of quilters dont know what a problem a
seam that runs the lenght of a piece causes
a LA.

If I have to piece it I try to make it 3 pieces with the largest in the center of the quilt. Definitely personal choice. A wonderful woman who I took a class from showed me a quilt on her bed and she put large squares on the back so she could reverse it and she said in 20 years she has never showed the other side. But it is a good way to use up fabric.

The quilt does not care which way the backing seam goes. I put my seam sideways/horizontal. It seams to take less fabric that way. Most of my quilts are about 65 x80 so I can get away with 4 yds of 45" putting the seam sideways instead of 5.5 yrs putting the seam up and down.

Thanks for the link! I have the hardest time with backing. I won't even buy material for backing that is in anyway directional...I really am challenged! :oops:

I used to piece my backings but now I only buy backings that at 108 or larger. I don't like seams. I am always looking for sales on backings. They have improved so much.
And, yes, the colors are much nicer than what they used to be. I don't use broadcloth.

Do you find a lot of 100% cotton sheets. I have looked for pillow cases to store quilts in and most all have polyester in them now unless you get the really expensive ones. Decided to make my own bags from muslim.

Hello. If you run the seam from the side across it will take less material.

I've been taught (right or wrong) to avoid putting the seams at the common fold. I'm told it weakens the seam to be folded and unfolded, and that does make sense to me. It would depend on how the quilt might be used that would determine how I did the back. If you know it's not going to be folded/unfolded a lot, seam placement wouldn't be as much of an issue as with one that would be in and out of use.