uneven backing fabric
 

It took me all morning to figure and finally square my backing fabric. Because the way it was cut I am loosing about 12-14 inches on each end. Frustrating but I am glad that I have purchase a bit more otherwise I would have to piece it. Disappointed that the fabric store cut it so uneven.

wow, that's not even just a little bit!

I always buy extra for that reason and always square up the ends.

It might be the way it was put on the bolt.

I would let the store know how much waste you had. What is the worst that can happen in letting them know, I am thinking they would do nothing. Best case scenario, they may actually give you a store credit. I have bought a fair amount of wide back and have never had it as bad as that. I think the most I lost to squaring up was 6".

I usually buy extra as well and usually get my backing on line. The fabric is pretty and you can use the waste bits in scrap quilt.

I got tired of this and started buying wide back solids by the bolt. That way I can rip the fabric off of the bolt myself - always comes out straight! For awhile I was asking shops to rip wide backing off of the bolts but I got tired of the looks of horror.

I still buy cute prints in wide backs too, but I buy lots of extra and then I rip the ends off when I get it home to get it square. I swear most of the fabric I buy these days are printed out of square and then wrapped onto the bolts in a less-than-straight fashion too. No wonder the staff can't get a straight cut!

Plus, it's just fun to rip fabric! I trim the ripped ends about 2 inches in, and fold & braid the strips into dog toys, so it's not really very wasteful. :)

I too always rip to straighten but I rip one end only and work from the rip end down. Then once I have my quilt sandwiched I cut off the extra. Yes extra wide backing because its folded then wound on bolt has a strong tendency to get uneven if they just lay it out on the table and cut. Its like cutting a plaid or stripe straight off the bolt versus cutting down the stripe. Burns me - I just lost 7" off a repeating plaid for this very reason.

For dramatic effect have you considered taking the ends in to explain to the store why you are upset? The visual of more than 1/2 yard might drive the point home quite quickly. I'm with the others on letting the store know or buying elsewhere.

wow!!! out of curiosity, how wide was that fabric to begin w/??? And i would take it back to the store if possible and complain.

i have been pretty satisfied w/ fabric cut at quilt stores - but the bolts of fabric are usually first runs and they are wound pretty good. I find that bolts at found at Joann's tend to be wonky a lot of the time and i have to watch very carefully.

i bought it on the web, next time I will mention it when I place the order. My local QS does not carry wide fabric. thanks for your comments, never thought of ripping the fabric on the end, next time I will, too!

Quilters should rise up and demand the wide backing be torn. When I ask my local shop to tare they said " o we give 6" extra. Well I lost 6" from both ends making 12" waste. File a complaint with the site where you bought it. Send a picture and emphasize you purchased x amount of usable fabric.