I just finished my first ever quilt....IF you want to call it that! I made a crib-sized quilt for my grandson using a single piece of fabric for both sides (no piecing). I did vertical "organic" lines of machine quilting, made my own binding and it turned out very nice! As a bonus, I enjoyed it. It was a total experiment for me and it was a success. I made this because I wanted to see if I was capable of doing it as I think I want to make a quilt to send to my son in Afghanistan. So, my question is figuring out the fabric....I will obviously buy the yardage based on how long I want the quilt to be but I will need to do a vertical seam to make get the width I want....correct? Am I going to have this seam in the center and I will need to trim the sides? I know, simple question, but remember I am a quilt virgin. Thanks for your help!!

Welcome from Kentucky! I understand your questions, but someone else will be able to explain much better than I!

Welcome from Michigan!
So you want to make the same type of quilt for your son, Basically one piece of fabric on both sides?
Don't go with a single seam. Take 2 lengths of fabric and cut one in half sew the 2 pieces to each side of the uncut piece, centering it. If it's too wide, then trim a bit from both sides. When you make the backing, cut an inch or two from the center piece so the seams on the front and back don't line up.

You can buy fabric that is like 108 inches wide so that you wouldn't have to have that vertical seam. Congratulations on making your first quilt. :) And welcome from Oregon

Okay, thank you. I had a feeling the "seam down the center" wasn't the way to go. Thanks for your help.

Um, okay, that sounds like an option as well. thank you.

Welcome from Louisiana:) There are wider fabrics available if you don't want a seam on the front. They are usually used for backing sometimes called "fat backs". You might want to try some simple pieced block to expand your skills. A 9 patch or 4 patch is a good place to start. Ask questions....there is always help on the QB.

You can buy quilt backings up to 120" wide for very reasonable prices - so you don't have to piece the back unless you just want to. :)

I buy most of my wide backings from Judi: http://stores.ebay.com/QUILT-UNIQUE-FABRICS-AND-GIFTS - she's got about 120 different ones from $8-12/yd. Very reliable seller and FAST! :)

When you do piece a back, you can sew two widths together side by side, so that one seam runs down the middle. (or across the middle, in the case of horizontal piecing)

Or you can place the two widths together and sew along both selvege edges to make a tube, then cut one layer of fabric right in the middle of the two seams, along the entire length. This gives you one wide piece in the center and a smaller piece on each side.

Some people piece leftovers from the front into a strip for the back - I haven't tried that because I'm not real great at quilting normal amounts of fabric, yet, much less doubled amounts. :) But, it can have a very pretty effect and it thins down the scrap bag.

Duh, use the quote button! thanks for the info.

Welcome and congratulations on your first quilt.

Maybe to make it a little more interesting and add just a bit of challenge, you could pick two coordinating fabrics and use one as a wide border. Your son will love it no matter how you decide to do it.

If you want/have to make the seam down the center, I do it all the time. My quilts are good and I gave no problems with a center seam in the backing.

OOOoohh, I bet I could do that! Thanks for the idea.

You're correct about him loving it no matter what, but I'm still mulling this over. This is his 4th war deployment (my ninth as a mom). He is accustomed to living without, and I'm just not quite sure about the quilt. I *think* he would enjoy having it, but I also don't want to give him extra "stuff" to deal with. I recently asked him what he wanted/needed in the form of comfort items and he said nothing. I asked about sending him a pillow, or sheets. Nope, he is fine without a pillow and he uses his poncho liner as a sheet. Seriously? So...still marinating in this thought of sending a quilt.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Hi, and welcome from MO.

It sounds like he doesn't want more "stuff". Where is he deployed to? It might be great if you make him the quilt and give it to him on his next visit home. You can send a pic of it and let him know how much you are thinking of him. I think it will be fine no matter where you decide to make the seam.

What a great Mom! And thanks to him -- 4x war area. Dang!

RE:

Feedback: 0/0.0%
Location: in hiding :) OOOoohh, I bet I could do that! Thanks for the idea.

You're correct about him loving it no matter what, but I'm still mulling this over. This is his 4th war deployment (my ninth as a mom). He is accustomed to living without, and I'm just not quite sure about the quilt. I *think* he would enjoy having it, but I also don't want to give him extra "stuff" to deal with. I recently asked him what he wanted/needed in the form of comfort items and he said nothing. I asked about sending him a pillow, or sheets. Nope, he is fine without a pillow and he uses his poncho liner as a sheet. Seriously? So...still marinating in this thought of sending a quilt.

all this discussion and we don't know what size the quilt is to be. Is it for an army cot or bed size.

if it is for an army cot then there is a lot of 60" wide fabric available.

Hi and welcome to the board from Iowa. Send me a PM if I can help.

welcome from Oklahoma....

I saw some really neat patriotic panel fabrics. Maybe you want to branch out and put a simple border around a panel to get the right width? Maybe not - just have fun with it. Your son will love whatever you make for him.

send him a bunch of new socks a picture of the quilt in progress and huge thank you's from all of us !!!!!

Hi,
Rather than sewing two pieces of fabric together, there is quilt backing fabric available in wider widths, JoAnns, Walmart, Connecting Threads, Fabric Depot all carry these, or you can use a 100% cotton flat sheet. I find putting a seam down the back makes it bulky and they say never put it down the middle of a quilt but off to the side if you do this.

Welcome from IL. Good luck with your quilt. It will be lovely I am sure.

A center seam is perfectly acceptable for the backing! Or even 2 seams. It is best to try to center the seam.

Why not two flat sheets?

The reason it is recommended not to have a seam down the center, front or back, is as it is folded up, it will weaken faster because it always folds on that seam first. That is the theory, and I am not willing to risk a weak area that I can avoid. IMHO

You will get lots of help from the Board. Meanwhile, I say cheers for you on this project. You are hooked!!! Addiction follows. :-)

God bless you and your son(s), daughter(s) for helping keep all of us safe. I read that you sew the two lengths together, vertically, down the sides, put the two seams on top of each other, and then cut down one side.

The suggestion for using extra wide fabric is great. If you don't mind using a seam then do a fabric search for "Quilts of Valor". All of the primo fabric manufactures came together to do patriotic themed fabric this past year. You could easily piece strips of patriotic fab together for the top and extra-wide fabric for the back. Robert Kauffman has military fabric as well.
If he is absolutely against taking a quilt with him then you could always donate it to the Quilts of Valor in his honor. They give quilts to wounded veterans.
God bless him as he serves and God bless you as you wait for him to come home.

I think it doesn't really matter what you do for the backing.
No one looks at it most of the time. Does your son have room to carry around a quilt? It may pose a problem. Good luck, and praying your son will come home safely.

when my son went to Iraq for his first deployment, I made him a D9P with patriotic colors; when I presented it to him, he didn't want to take it with him, said the sand would ruin it, so I stored it for him. He didn't take it with him either for the next deployment, but is using it now that he's back. The sand in Iraq is terrible, really eats up fabric.

when my son went to Iraq for his first deployment, I made him a D9P with patriotic colors; when I presented it to him, he didn't want to take it with him, said the sand would ruin it, so I stored it for him. He didn't take it with him either for the next deployment, but is using it now that he's back. The sand in Iraq is terrible, really eats up fabric.

I have made and sent quilts to a few soldiers in Afghanistan and they were happily received. However, I did not know the receipients personally. I used cotton for the tops and fleece for the backs. I didn't use a 3rd layer in the middle. In cot size, these are pretty lightweight and warm. Just a thought for consideration.
I think if someone is on the move a lot the less they have to keep track of the better.
Many hugs and thanks to you and your family for all you have and are giving for us and your country.

Welcome to the board. Best wishes on your quilt journey!

When just learning to quilt I found it best to get a pattern for a whole quilt and follow the yardage requirments and the instructions for the whole quilt.
The best books and teacher is Eleanor Burns of Quilt In A Day. You cant go wrong with her instructions and alot of her videos are on her webside under the television and video button.
I love her book Stars Across America, it would be great in red white and blue.
http://quiltinaday.com

Congrats on your first quilt!