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Thread: Batting and Backing Questions

  1. #1
    PatriciaF is offline Senior Member
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    Cool Batting and Backing Questions

    I been watching some videos on how to do the batting and backing. I am more confused now then ever!!

    Some videos show that the batting and the top are the same with no extra batting showing around the edges of the top. Then I see another video where the batting is bigger than the top. So, which is it? I know that the backing has to be bigger then both batting and top.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated for this new quilter.

    Thank you,

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    vchale's Avatar vchale is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    I think you would always want your batting to be a little larger than your top but I don't usually make my backing larger than the batting. How much larger depends on whether you are going to quilt it yourself or send it to a longarmer and also your comfort level with things shifting.
    Vernona

  3. #3
    LRM's Avatar
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    LRM is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    I think it depends on how it will be quilted and bound. I just looked at a blog today that had information if you are going to have it quilted by long arm. Here is the link.

    I usually leave batting and backing a few inches larger than the front, then trim after quilting. If I'm binding I trim both to the size of the front. If I'm turning the back to the front for quick binding, obviously trim the batting and then the back 1" larger and 1/2", then again over the edge and stitch down.
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  4. #4
    Sylvia H's Avatar Sylvia H is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    I do my own quilting on a home machine. The larger the quilt, the more "extra" I have for both the batting and the backing. For a bed quilt, I will make my batting 3 inches longer/wider than the top, on each side (or a total of 6 inches extra horizontally and vertically). The backing will be an additional 2" longer/wider than the batting on each side. (or a total of 4 extra inches horizontally and vertically.) I did have one quilt (one of my first) where I ended up not having enough backing on one side. It was a king size quilt, and I think poor basting was the culprit. Because I had a very busy backing design, I was able to attach an additional strip to the backing to make up the difference.

    For smaller items, I still try to keep the increases to about 2 inches, although I sometimes will make the batting and backing the same size. The type of quilting does make a difference. The heavier the quilting, the more the batting and backing will be "taken up". So if you know you are going to do heavy quilting, you want to make allowances for that.

    I have to fight my desire to save material in this area. It is better to end up with too much material after quilting than not enough.
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  5. #5
    cyndiofthevortex's Avatar cyndiofthevortex is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    The batting should be larger than the top to account for any shrinking of the top due to quilting.

    I piece my backing larger than my batting so that I can see it while quilting. I've had the back fold under and get quilted in with the top, if that makes sense to you. You know what I mean if it has happened to you! Ripping out quilting stitches is hard and no fun at all.

    Craftsy has a free "Creative Quilt Backs" class is you're interested. Learn How To Back a Quilt In: Creative Quilt Backs I got some good pointers from this class and have used some of her ideas when piecing my backs. It's worth it just to look at Elizabeth Hartman's quilts!
    lourixe likes this.
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    PatriciaF is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    Quote Originally Posted by PatriciaF View Post
    I been watching some videos on how to do the batting and backing. I am more confused now then ever!!

    Some videos show that the batting and the top are the same with no extra batting showing around the edges of the top. Then I see another video where the batting is bigger than the top. So, which is it? I know that the backing has to be bigger then both batting and top.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated for this new quilter.

    Thank you,
    Thank you for the info. I assumed that quilters have their own preferences but since I am new I need direction.

    Thank you!!

  7. #7
    PatriciaF is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    Quote Originally Posted by LRM View Post
    I think it depends on how it will be quilted and bound. I just looked at a blog today that had information if you are going to have it quilted by long arm. Here is the link.

    I usually leave batting and backing a few inches larger than the front, then trim after quilting. If I'm binding I trim both to the size of the front. If I'm turning the back to the front for quick binding, obviously trim the batting and then the back 1" larger and 1/2", then again over the edge and stitch down.
    Thanks for the information. If I am quilting on my own machine and want the binding to be a little "padded" leave the batting alone and fold over the back/binding over the batting? If I don't want the binding to be a little "padded" cut the top and batting and back the same? See I am confused lol....

  8. #8
    PatriciaF is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    Quote Originally Posted by Sylvia H View Post
    I do my own quilting on a home machine. The larger the quilt, the more "extra" I have for both the batting and the backing. For a bed quilt, I will make my batting 3 inches longer/wider than the top, on each side (or a total of 6 inches extra horizontally and vertically). The backing will be an additional 2" longer/wider than the batting on each side. (or a total of 4 extra inches horizontally and vertically.) I did have one quilt (one of my first) where I ended up not having enough backing on one side. It was a king size quilt, and I think poor basting was the culprit. Because I had a very busy backing design, I was able to attach an additional strip to the backing to make up the difference.

    For smaller items, I still try to keep the increases to about 2 inches, although I sometimes will make the batting and backing the same size. The type of quilting does make a difference. The heavier the quilting, the more the batting and backing will be "taken up". So if you know you are going to do heavy quilting, you want to make allowances for that.

    I have to fight my desire to save material in this area. It is better to end up with too much material after quilting than not enough.
    Thanks for the help. I am trying to understand all this. So, in other words, the quilting takes "up" the material a little and if you don't leave it longer on all sides it gets smaller with the machine quilting? Oh dear me, I need help.

  9. #9
    PatriciaF is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Batting and Backing Questions

    Quote Originally Posted by cyndiofthevortex View Post
    The batting should be larger than the top to account for any shrinking of the top due to quilting.

    I piece my backing larger than my batting so that I can see it while quilting. I've had the back fold under and get quilted in with the top, if that makes sense to you. You know what I mean if it has happened to you! Ripping out quilting stitches is hard and no fun at all.

    Craftsy has a free "Creative Quilt Backs" class is you're interested. Learn How To Back a Quilt In: Creative Quilt Backs I got some good pointers from this class and have used some of her ideas when piecing my backs. It's worth it just to look at Elizabeth Hartman's quilts!
    Thanks for the link!! I have to gather all my information before I start. I have the top done but got totally lost with the back and batting. So, hard to explain on a post. Thanks!!!

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