evelyn5269

I normally buy wide backing but can't find what I want so if I piece the back together with 45" wide fabric do you piece it down the middle, across at the middle or in diagonal pieces. I am not sure how to do it to keep most of the stress off the seams when the quilt is done and being used a lot.
Thanks

quiltsRfun

I don't put a seam down the middle. I put 45 inches or WOF in the center, then equal amounts on each side to get the width. (Or length if you're piecing horizontally.) You can also get fancy with your piecing and make a giant 9-patch or something similar.

Prism99

Where you place your seams depends somewhat on whether you plan to quilt using a sit-down machine or a frame. With frame quilting, you want to be careful not to have your seams running up and down as the extra fabric in the seam rolling upon itself will eventually distort the quilt.

Traditionally, the method is to run the full width of fabric down the middle with a seam on each side. This works well for hand quilting and also for machine quilting on a domestic machine. You can do the same for a quilt that will be longarmed, but in this case you would want to run the full width of the fabric from left-to-right so the seams aren't rolling on top of each other.

ManiacQuilter2

I have quilted only on my Bernina and I try to make sure that the seam doesn't run down the middle. I never have noticed in almost 30 year of quilting if it makes a difference with a vertical or horizontal seam. I do a lot of charity quilts and it usually what ever works with the fabric I have.

kathy

if you don't need it wider than 66" you can do a diagonal seam, it looks nice and works well on the frame. you can look up John Flynn to get the formula for how much length you need.

Geri B

Sew both edges together, then match seams one one side and cut down that crease...you will end up with full width on center and halves on edges.....

joyce888

I do the seam down the middle on anything smaller than a queen size. I've not had issues with the back getting distorted or creased. BTW I quilt on a longarm.

stella63

Simples, Brilliant !!

Jeanne S

I almost always do a little piecing on my quilt backs, even if I have the wide backing because I think it adds interest to the overall quilt. It is a great way to use up leftover blocks and other fabric scraps. I have not had any difficulties quilting through the seams on both sides, and the ones I have sent to the long arm quilter have come back great with no complaints from her either. Here are a few examples of some backs:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]501914[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]501915[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]501916[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]501917[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]501918[/ATTACH]

quilter711

Very creative Jeanne S. Beautiful quilts!!