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Favorite Fabrics 07-14-2011 07:32 AM

We had a sales rep come by yesterday and tell us, "We have 118" wide backing."

Do you find that 118" backing is better and/or more useful than 108" backings?

Just wondering if the extra 10" matters a lot or a little.

bj 07-14-2011 07:36 AM

It might be nice for a king quilt, but other than that, seems 108" would be sufficient. I like not having to piece the back.

gaigai 07-14-2011 07:36 AM


Originally Posted by Favorite Fabrics
We had a sales rep come by yesterday and tell us, "We have 118" wide backing."

Do you find that 118" backing is better and/or more useful than 108" backings?

Just wondering if the extra 10" matters a lot or a little.

I don't know how many people make quilts that big. Even my king-size blooming lilacs didn't need more than the 108 inches. I know there are some, I just have no idea how many. It will be interesting to see the answers you get.

kathy 07-14-2011 07:37 AM

i find the 108 is plenty 95% of the time

rivka 07-14-2011 07:40 AM

Maybe it would be useful for longarm quilting? I like to have longer sides so that I'm not running into my clamps on the side to stretch things tight. But my frame is only 120" wide, and 118" would actually be too wide. Hmm. I can't see the value, I guess.

QuiltE 07-14-2011 07:51 AM

I don't buy a lot of wide width fabrics, as there isn't a huge selection of them easily available. So I am often piecing 42" widths to give me what I need.

Quilts used as bedspreads for my double bed are easily 100" square, or larger. So yes, I can see 118" being very useful.

I don't have a queen or king ... though with my sizing for the double, I would think there'd be many that would be happy to get the 118". Of course, as I often find, the fabric colour/design itself may not be what is wanted!

bibliostone 07-14-2011 07:53 AM

It would be great for king size quilts. Too often 108 just barely covers the back and there is not the 4 inches overage that you need on each side.

caspharm 07-14-2011 08:03 AM

I agree. I have been making king size quilts and hate having to piece my backs, since I put them on the long arm. I have several tops that are 106" and with 108", I have to piece.

Lori S 07-14-2011 08:24 AM

I do purchase wide backings ..but have never needed one that wide. But.. if it was a design that only came that wide .. And I really liked it .. yep I would buy it.

thepolyparrot 07-14-2011 08:33 AM

I buy 90" or 108" when I can't find the print I want or a suitable alternative in 120" - I wish all of them were a standard 120" though.

Not just for big quilts - I use wide backing for everything I can. Three yards of 108" wide cut in quarters give you four 54" squares - very economical backing for four smallish quilts and you don't have to piece any of them.

It's a good size for laps, table runners, throws, toddler and crib quilts, but I would like to have an extra couple of inches on each side, sometimes.


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