Hello again my fellow quilters. What does everyone do for the backs of queen/king quilts? Any fabric I see is just what is on the bolts and this is NOT big enough. Okay, help this newby out again :)
Printable View
Hello again my fellow quilters. What does everyone do for the backs of queen/king quilts? Any fabric I see is just what is on the bolts and this is NOT big enough. Okay, help this newby out again :)
I tend to spoil myself and use the wide backing fabric which is usually 108" wide so no seams, but normally you would piece for a queen size quilt. You can choose just one fabric and piece a couple drops together to get the width and length you need or you can piece it with different fabrics for interest or include left over blocks or...well you get the picture. I know some use sheets for these large backs, I prefer not to for various reasons but it is an option.
I have done a larger quilt yet, but I will piece the fabric together and add a strip so it's not all the same fabric to give it some interest.
I use sheets if i want a solid piece of material. Sometimes i use fleece and only have one seam down the middle.
kellie
I normally use the wide backing fabric. I don't care to use sheets, but some people do.
I've used sheets with simple quilting, and have pieced fabrics various ways for queens. Never have tried the 90" or 108" fabrics yet.
I used a place that fits queen size perfectly with the extra fabric needed for having someone quilt it. They have the quality fabric and will send you samples of the fabric before you buy. I had a quilt that I just didn't want to have seams in the back and found this site.
The size is 108x118.
www.christianlanequilters.com/
oops, I forgo tot tell you that the specialty fabric is called "Fatbacks"
Great site! Thanks, Brook.
I haven't made a queen size quilt yet but I made two rather large lap or small twin quilts and I bought nice 108 backing fabric at Joann's for $9.99 a yard used a 50% coupon and got 2 yds for 9.99. I don't know how to work the pieced backing into my quilting so I try to get the 108 fabric with a coupon
I almost always use 108" muslin by Legacy Studios available at JoAnn's and only with a coupon...excellent top quality muslin and use the scraps for other projects because it is so nice....it is pricey so get a coupon!
So far I have used sheets. However, just in reading this... I have been comtemplating useing the quilt as you go method and use a print fabric. I also thought about using prints or solids, but making the backing only as large as the main portion of the quilt top of one color and then making the same color (or different) to make "borders" on the back, same as on the front. THat way it could almost be a reversible quilt...deco on the back as well as the front in stead of just all solid or all one pattern.
Just an FYI – when choosing a backing a couple of things come into play, are you going to have it quilted or tie it, if you choose to tie it a sheet is acceptable, if you choose to have it quilted, quilters prefer you use a material. The reason is sheets are usually of a smaller thread woven tighter where material is larger threads not as tightly woven, thus fewer pulled threads and it doesn’t dull a quilters needle as fast.
I have used the fabric that is made for backing because it is wider. It looks great. I have also pieced material together for the back and that looks great too. I think I decide as I go along and figure out how I want the outcome to be.
For me it depends on what I want the back to look like. I make reversible quilts sometimes so there I would be piecing together the backing. A tip I was given when piecing is to always have at least three panels so your seams are spread out. Over time a centre seam will wear faster than more than one seam. So whether piecing side to side or top to bottom, I always use three seams or more depending on what I am doing with the backing. Sometimes you just want a pretty fabric to match the top so piecing comes in handy.
I have also used the backing fabrics on a few quilts too and they are very good. I tend to like the muslin fabrics. Gives them such a nice feel when its washed.