Add me to the rip and tear group - I'm then positive I'm on grain in both directions.

I have nothing against ripping to get on grain, but it doesn't guaranty that the top is square (or rectangular), and that's also necessary.

Wait and square after you finish quilting.

I would square after the quilting is done but I hope you preshrunk. I think that could through off squaring.

My LA qulter does the squaring up for me after it's quilted. I take him the parts (top, batting, backing), and he does all the rest. My hero! I always make sure he has at least 4" or more extra on all sides of the backing. The parts come back ready for binding. No, he doesn't charge extra.

I do this too! Perfectly square backing results. Fast and easy and no fussing with rulers and tapes and such. I use the method GingerK posted about for my quilt tops.

You folks do realize that if a backing is not square prior to loading onto a longarm, it will roll up unevenly, and your quilt will be wonky? No magic is worked here. For those of you who don't square prior to handing it off to your longarm quilter, your longarm quilter is then stuck doing it.

It takes a little time, I personally would charge extra for it.

Yes, your long arm quilter needs a square top and bottom on backing fabric to attach to the frame so the top can be placed squarely--if the backing is "off"(read that a little biased) then puckers are more likely and once washed will not be square. I always rip wideback (at least cross grain, I sometimes will leave the selvage alone so there's not lots of threads hanging off) cause wide back is notorious for not coming off the bolt square. A presenter at Guild showed how I could be off as much as 12"--which if your quilter has to square up, may mean not enough fabric given to him/her.


Oops-read that the backing could be off by a much as 12"---not me!