What is your bare minimum??
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,489
What is your bare minimum??
What is the bare minimum backing size you can get by with? Quilt top is 41". I currently only have one inch on the sides. Top and bottom are OK. The borders are 3.5 inches, so I can trim an inch off, which would give me a couple inches on the sides. I plan on SITD and echo quilting. Quilt has 5 10 x10 squares, and 2 18 x 10 squares, with 1 inch sashing between. The backing is perfect for the quilt. I've always had 4" or more overhang. Is this enough, or will I run into problems?
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Tn
Posts: 8,709
If you are quilting on your home machine you will be fine. I have gone as close as to have to trim a bit of boarder after quilting is done. Just go for it. As long as you can center it when you baste all will be fine
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I also have managed to quilt with only one inch extra on my domestic machine. I think it helps to starch both top and backing before layering, and to spray baste (or glue baste). Both of those things help prevent fabric "creep". Using cotton batting (or 80/20) rather than polyester batting also helps prevent fabric creep, as the fabric sticks better to the cotton.
#6
I use my domestic machine and mainly do meander quilting, and an extra 1" all the way around has been just fine. I do spray baste so that nothing shifts and make sure that everything is centered perfectly.
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 410
What is the bare minimum backing size you can get by with? Quilt top is 41". I currently only have one inch on the sides. Top and bottom are OK. The borders are 3.5 inches, so I can trim an inch off, which would give me a couple inches on the sides. I plan on SITD and echo quilting. Quilt has 5 10 x10 squares, and 2 18 x 10 squares, with 1 inch sashing between. The backing is perfect for the quilt. I've always had 4" or more overhang. Is this enough, or will I run into problems?
When you've had 4" of overhand in the past, how much did you trim off after you were done?
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Another thing that will add to the need for additional backing is the thickness of your batting. A thinner batting, like warm & natural or a thin poly will 'take up' much less than a puffier one. As mentioned, just baste well.
#10
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,489
Thanks for the replies! Top and back are all cotton. I'm using Warm and White batting, and I spray baste. I usually starch too, so I'll do that too. I'm going to trim the border a bit and go for it!
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