Quilt Backing Pro-Tips

Backing Day is two weeks away, so here's a great opportunity to go over some tips and tricks to getting the backing you need, whether it's Backing Day or not!

Calculating your Backing Needs
1. Measure

Your width is labeled as Y, your length as Z.  For the sake of example, let's say this quilt measures 55" x 70"

2. Add for the Quilter
If you are taking your quilt out to be quilted by a professional longarmer, you need to add extra all the way around so the quilt can attach to their machine - ask your quilter how much they prefer.  For the sake of example, let's say the quilter needs 4" all the way around.  Add 8" to the length and width - that makes the quilt in Step 1 now 63" x 78"

3. Do the Math
Do the math for both types of backing fabric - regular width and wide width. When you go shopping for your backing it'll help you estimate cost and guide your decision. 

For regular width (~44") fabric, determine if there's a side of the quilt that will fit into (1) width - if it does, great!  Hold on a sec and we'll get back to it.  

In our case, neither 63" nor 78" fit into 44".  So that means we have to piece the backing.  This gives us a double width of 88". Now, both 63" and 78" fit into 88"!  It's most cost effective to fit the larger side of the quilt into the double width if it will fit.  In our case, it does. 

 Now, we just need to know how much to get - to do this we divide the remaining length by 36" (one yard) and multiply it by 2 since we need the two widths.  So 63/36 = 1.75.  1.75 x 2 = 3.5 yards.  

If we choose to go with wide width, we need only 1.75 yards (enough for the width). How easy was that?

Choosing your Backing Fabric
Now that you have your backing requirements in your hot little hands, it's time to choose the fabric. Color choice and pattern choice are up to you - there's no Quilt Police, so pick what you like! But here are a couple considerations:  

Regular Width Backing
Pros

• A wide variety of color and pattern to match your quilt
• High quality pieces available
• Regular price and Clearance priced options widely available 
• Cost effective for full sized quilts and smaller - cheaper per yard than wide width

Cons

• Unless your heart is set on a piece this is not cost effective for large quilts as you may need more than two selvedge to selvedge widths to account for even the shortest side
• Can produce a lot of waste
• If your quilt is large you will have a seam running down the back of your quilt
• Piecing your backing can be an inconvenience or cumbersome for some people to manage for reasons of space or physical ability
• If you choose a directional print, more yardage is required than usual depending on how you want the pattern to run

Wide Width Backing
Pros

• Less yardage is required because of the larger selvedge to selvedge measurement
• Most cost efficient option for large quilts
• Blender style color schemes complement quilts nicely
• No need to piece backing

Cons

• Are not available everywhere
• Limited range of colors
• Lower quality greigh goods than regular width are used so they tend to be rougher
• Notably more expensive than regular width
• If used on a non-queen/king quilt, there is a very significant amount of waste
• Seldom found on Clearance

You also may want a different fiber other than cotton, which is what I have been talking about. The math and measuring is all the same, but consider your function:

• Summer quilts tend to do better with cotton backings
• Winter quilts tend to be more suited towards flannel. 
• Kids like soft things so flannel or minkee are great for those quilts, but maybe not so much for an heirloom quilt. 
• Ask your quilter before using Minkee, because it stretches and sheds they may decline to quilt your quilt with that backing. 
• If it needs to be durable and long lasting, first and second run fabrics like those found at Walmart and JoAnn's aren't your best bet.

Everyone has their own way of doing things, so you may find a figuring methodology that works for you better than this, but I hope that helped clear up some of the backing problems and make the math easier, for beginners and experienced quilters alike!

Don't forget to stop by and see us with your finished quilt tops on the last day of the month!  We love to see what you've created, and you get a little something off your backing. See you Wednesday!