Just looking around at 108" quilt backing prices, where it's the same pattern as is available in 44" goods.

And the (wholesale) price for the backing is 1.5 times as much as the 44" goods.

Huh? You're getting 2.45 times as much fabric.

I don't understand. Anybody out there that can explain this?

Maybe I misunderstood what you were saying... But if they are only charging 1.5 times more for 2.45 more fabric... Isn't that a good thing?

I have found that the wide backings, while more per yard have always been a more cost efficient alternative for me because I am buying much less linear yardage. Wide back I can back a quilt with about 3.5 yards of fabric and no piecing. 44" I usually have to get about 7 yards. (for queen size quilt).

well i always heard it was cheaper to buy in bulk! i don't think i've ever seen the same 108 as any 44 tho. that sure would make it cheaper to make a quilt if you could get focus fabs that wide, might only take 1 yd. i need to check these out, the only time i think of 108 is when i'm done and looking for the back. LOL

I try to use the wide backing fabric on Most of my quilts.

one thing i've noticed about most of the wide fabric i've bought is that isn't as dense, not really flimsy but just not as heavy as most LQS fabs.

Maybe we should be buying the wide backing fabrics to make our tops too.

I'm glad you said that, because now I know to ask what kind of greige goods the backings are printed on. It could well be that they are not as thick as the 44"-wide ones.

Do you recall what brands the wide goods you bought were?

I have found the wide backing fabric is cheaper per yard. I just have a hard time finding the patterns I want for the front of a quilt. They are great for backing though. I love not having a seam in the back.

That is all I ever use. They look so much nicer than when you have to piece 44".

i have used regular prints wide 108" backings, 110" wide flannels and 116" wide batiks. the flannel was the only one that was not as heavy as what i usually buy but it still worked great and was a good quality, did not pill after a few washes. the batiks are the same as 45" wide bali batiks. i love using wide backs and have had no problems with sub-standard quality. and i am very picky about fabrics!
2 sources for wide backs are fabric.com AND quiltbacks.com but if you type wide quilt backs into your search you will find lots of shops that carry them, and just like everywhere some are better quality some not so good...shop at a reputable shop and if in doubt contact them and ask for a swatch so you can check it out before you buy. it is a very cost effective way to go...3 yds of 116" wide fabric gives you 116"x 108" ...so cost wise i can back a quilt for about 1/2 what it would cost for me to buy 9 yards of 45" wide fabric.

I will have to check into this too, thank you for bringing it up :D:D:D

I have seen the printed wide backing fabric at local JoAnns, but don't know if they match any of the 44" fabrics (never looked). With a 40% or 50% off coupon, you can't go wrong

Have you thought of using sheets? Best price yet!

Hey do we really want the fabric manufacturers to realize we have figured this out? I have been sitting on this knowledge for several years and often order backing fabric to be used in piecing a quilt top. I really think we should not be so vocal about this!

South Sea Imports is thinner, Henry Glass is thinner but has a beautiful softness to it and is not as thin as SSI, Fabri-Quilt is the same but might feel coarse to some quilters (not as coarse as Kona Solids, if that gives you a reference). Hope that helps.

I've bought most of my 108" backings at Joann's using a 50% off coupon. So I'm getting it for about $4.50 a yard. And it not only is as thick, it may be every so slightly denser. It is definitely NOT second-quality.

I have been using the wide backings on my quilts and you are right they are not the same thread count as the 44'' goods. They work well on the backs tho. I have found Moda 108'' in the same line as the quilt I was making . I have used the wildflower serenade 2 line and they had backing to match in the 108''. Ask at the quilt store you frequent or check Hancock's of Paducah. They sometimes have it on sale. I haven't used it on the fronts yet as both times I had the tops almost finished when I found the backing. You do save money buying the 108' because like it was stated you don't need as many yards because you don't need to piece it.

Good Luck

Suzy

The wide backing that I have that's designed by Kansas Troubles made by Moda is NOT the same weight as the normal line that went with the wide 108" print. I believe it's "Butterfly Garden". I can take some pictures from the shop if that can help you any. But I quilted a charity quilt that I had made for the Shriner's and noticed that it was thinner. It quilted beautifly but just thinner. I also got a bolt from "Park Avenue" by 3 Sisters for Moda BUTTTT that one was the same weight as the normal 44/45". So go figure....

I'm seeing a lot of posts about Moda fabric. My experience this past year or two has been that Moda fabric is not what it once was. Lately I find it to be much thinner, and it ravels BADLY!!! I have had a full 1/4 inch seam fall apart because of raveling, but it only seems to happen with Moda fabric. And it happens often enough that I've stopped buying Moda for that reason. Joann's 44" fabric is a hit or miss on quality, but I've found their 108" fabric to be very good.

I agree, some of the wide fabric feels cheap.

I have purchased 108" backing for 5.99 per yard and found the very identical backing at quilt shops charging 14.99 per yard. Even with shipping I got a better price. Shop around.

I just buy sheets less expensive and, oh, the variety of colors.

Isn't the wide backing fabric a much looser weave than the 44" fabric? In which case, it should be less expensive per sq yd.

I've left voice mail for the VP of Sales at South Sea Imports to ask if they're printing the wide fabrics on a different grade of goods. With Quilt Market being this weekend, I don't expect an answer until next week (when their dust settles). I will definitely post what I find out!

(One of the perks of being "in the business" is that sometimes you can talk to a highly-placed person who's truly "in the know"! There's nothing as good as getting information straight from the source.)

I use the wide backing on my quilts and if there is any muslin left I use it for blocks or for the kids. There is little left when making a queen size quilt and that is a plus when you do a lot of quilting and buying of material. When I shop I try and get it on sale so I can buy the larger by the bolt the 44" I would have to buy more bolts. I have very little storage space and need all I can get to quilt as the bedroom is small and can not handle a lot of scraps and material like I wished it could.....

thanks for the information

Here's what the rep said:

"Never printed on the same goods as they are printed at a different plant that only does 110".
Not the same quality, but some are pretty good."

Still waiting to hear what the VIP of Sales says; I'm going to try to find out what the weight is per-yard and the thread count, which will be a more informative answer, right? So we can compare it, with, say the weights that are posted on Robert Kaufman's site, so we know how it stacks up with fabrics that we may have personally seen and/or handled. (I don't think Kaufman makes wide backings, so we'll have to do a little math to compare apples to apples!)

I would still rather use the cheaper made fabric than a bed sheet.

me too

Many are not thinner fabrics. It depends on the manufacture, some are thicker fabrics. I have never found any difference in Batik backings.
I frequently buy backings , particullarly the remnants for use in quilt tops . Shop owners have a hard time selling less than a yard of a backing and will discount it often 50 percent. So I figure I am really getting quite the bargain.

I use wide backs from SewBatik and LangaLapu. Any leftovers go into other quilt tops as borders or pieces. Love them.

WOW - check out SewBatik. Beautiful batik backings. I especially loved the double border - and I'm thinking caftans, too.

so far the only wide I have found (108") is muslin - where do you find other wide fabrics?

JoAnns, LQS, online stores.

The 108" wide from SewBatik.com is printed on goods that are NOT like regular batiks - for a reason. Regular batiks are printed on a very high thread count fabric. When used on a longarm there can be problems with threads breaking instead of parting for the needle. By using a threadcount closer to that of quilt shop quality quilting fabrics, the backs behave better during the quilting process. I LOVE quilting on their wide backs!

I just checked out SewBatik.com. OMG their prices are high!

I don't have an answer, but the inmates figured it long ago. They are allowed 4 yards of fabric - policy doesn't state how wide the fabric has to be. Clever or sly, but they buy the 108" whenever they can - even the batiks!

Same here, haven't seen 108" fabric pattern in 44" width. I have used left over backing in quilts at times, although it is thicker to my feel. Always get backing material for large quilts...cheaper and I don't have the pesty seams.

;-)

I haven't use the 108" much because I don't find colors that I like. I have not noticed them being thinner. Just the opposite. They are usually very stiff. Some of our quilt shops carry fat backs. JoAnn have some. Be care at JoAnn because a lot of times the fabric shiffs as it is rolled on the bolt and they cut exactly on the measurement. By the time you square up the two ends you are short. I am using a longarm and need to square things up.

This has been my observation, too.