Pieced Backing fabric must be 8” larger than your quilt top in length and width. In other words, I need a minimum of 4” extra backing fabric all the way around so the backing is larger than your quilt top.
For example, if your quilt is 60″ x 70″ you will need backing that is at least 68″ x 78″.
If you will be piecing fabric for backing, I recommend a 1/2” seam allowance. Press the seam open or firmly to either side.
Selvage Edges When sewing two lengths of fabric together, please remove the selvage edges from the inner seams. The selvage of fabric does not stretch the same as the fabric, and you’re quilt will have uneven tension on the longarm frame (very bad) and it will pucker when washed. However, I love when the outer edges of your backing has the selvage edge. This makes a nice straight line to attach to my frame and it will be trimmed off after quilting. Oops, If you have already sewn your backing and you didn’t remove the selvage from your seams, You can make vertical clips every few inches to release some of the tighter tension.
Why a horizontal seam is best: When piecing backing, keep in mind that most pantograph designs have an “upright” design. This often requires the quilt to load top-up. If possible, try to piece your backing with a horizontal seam. A horizontal seam will run the width of your quilt and parallel to my machine rollers. A single vertical seam is difficult to roll-up evenly, this tends to make wrinkles and interferes with keeping your quilt square. If a vertical seam is unavoidable, you may consider two seams dividing the quilt back into thirds. Two seams off-center will load more evenly, plus it’s better for the life of your quilt than one seam centered where quilts tend to be folded. I’m happy to answer questions on this!
