How Much Fabric Do I Need For A Quilt Backing

Knowing how much fabric you need for the quilt backing might seem a bit challenging at first, but it’s not. It depends on the size of the quilt that will give you the amount of fabric you require for the backing.

No matter the size, you can efficiently work it out by measuring the top part of the quilt. You can also add a bit of extra to cover up the movement with no hassle.

When you use the measurement, it will become a lot easier for you to determine the quilt size required for the backing.

How Much Fabric Do I Need For A Quilt Backing?

You need to follow several steps to help you know the amount of fabric you will require for the quilt backing. To understand what these steps are, check the information below.

Step 1

Measure the length and width of the top quilt. Jot down the measurements on paper.

Step 2

Opt for the width measurement of +8 inches (20cm). This stands out as the measurement for the quilt backing.

After that, take the length measurement of +8 inches (20cm). This will be the new measuring for the backing fabric.

Be sure to keep 4 inches at the bottom and the top and 4 inches for the bottom sides.

Step 3

If you have the fabric already, that’s great, but if you don’t have it, purchase the material of the correct width.

It will give you the power to make a one-piece for the quilt backing from the material. If you have made a king or double quilt, you need to sew 2 to 3 panels together to create a backing.

Remember, most fabric bolts are 45 inches (110cm) or 60 (150cm) inches in width. You have to pin the backing into its place and sew with a seam allowance of ? inch.

You also need to use binding after cutting down the edges to make some nice-looking edges.

Best Fabric For Quilt Backing

The plethora of options available for quilt backing might be overwhelming. But it depends entirely on you to choose the suitable fabric if you want to create high-quality quilts.

Let’s take a look at the fabrics that are currently available in the market.

1. Cotton Muslin Fabric from Mybecca

The cotton muslin fabric from Mybecca stands out as a medium-weight fabric and an excellent choice for quilt backing. The material is created from 100% cotton and comes with a smooth finish and soft touch.

You will find the fabric being sold in pieces 100, 10, 5, 2, or 1 yard in length, and the fabric comes with a width of 63 inches.

It delivers a medium feel and light drape. You will not just get the chance to use it for making quilts. But also utilize the fabric to create drapings, embroideries, and fittings.

You can wash the machine and wash the fabric. It’s highly recommended that you keep the material under a low setting to stay in excellent shape.

2. Indonesian Batik Fabric

Indonesian Batik fabric is a 100% cotton material, and you can use it for quilt backing. This nice-looking fabric is sold through the yard and comes in pieces that carry a width of 43 inches.

You will find the fabric available in various shades, including gold, chocolate, olive, and red. Along the material comes in love designs as well.

If you want a stunning fabric to finish off your quilt backing, the Indonesian Batik fabric will be the right one for you.

3. Quilters Linen Fabric from Robert Kaufman

Despite its name, the fabric stands out as a quilting cotton material. The material does feel and look like linen. You can use it for all your quilting projects with no issues.

The brand Robert Kaufman carries a reputation in the industry for its quilting fabrics, home décor fabrics, and fabrics. The quilters linen fabrics contain 100% cotton, and they sell the fabric by the yard.

All the pieces come with a width of 44 inches. For such reasons, you need to do some piecing together. Doing so will help you obtain a backing, which is wide enough for your requirements.

4. The Cotton Flannel Fabric- 45 inches wide

When looking for an alternative option for quilting cotton fabrics, you must choose the cotton flannel fabric. The entire material is made from cotton and is pretty soft and warm.

You will find the material sold in yards and comes with a width of 45 inches. It’s available in many shades or colors. To make baby quilts, this material stands out as the best choice.

5. Essex Natural Flax Linen from Robert Kaufman

This particular fabric from Robert Kaufman is made from 45% cotton and 55% natural flax linen. You can use the material for quilt backing and get to purchase the fabric in half-yard increments.

This stands out as a great option when you want to buy a precise length of fabric. Essex linen fabric will deliver outstanding outcomes by mixing it up with other quilting materials.

It stands out as a promising material if you want to experiment with the Essex Flax Linen.

Tips To Follow On Quilt Backing

If it’s your first time doing the quilt backing work, here are some valuable tips to help you. They are:

1. Want a long-lasting and sturdy finish? Go for a high-quality quilting cotton fabric.
2. When you have large quilts, try to use vertical seams with the backing. But for small quilts, go for horizontal seams.
3. Take your quilt backing measurements with you when going out for fabric shopping. It will help you double-check the fabric’s width right before you buy it.
4. Make sure to work out a quilt backing that will match perfectly with your quilt. To do so, you need to head back to the design board.
5. Distribute the 8 inches evenly on all four sides of the quilt.

What Are The Ways To Piece The Quilt Backing?

When you have yards of mismatched or matched fabrics, you can quickly join them to create a quilt backing piece. To know how to do so, follow the steps given below.

Step 1: Pick the fabric

You will come across many types of fabrics in the market. Among all the other fabrics, quilting cotton stands out as the popular choice of all time. There is also some quilt backing fabric that is soft and delivers a luxurious feel.

When you have a patterned backing on a colossal quilt but don’t wish to align the fabric, you can use bedsheets. The bedsheets do not require additional effort and time but are more significant than the quilting material.

Once you know how much material you need for the quilting work, you can take the step to look for a quilting fabric that will match your needs.

Step 2: The seam allowance

Keep in mind to account for the seam allowance as it’s highly essential when you wish to match the prints. For example, if you have a blue circle-patterned fabric, those blue circles will not line up when they get pieced together.

You have to cut off the extra material from one side. Doing so will enable the pattern to appear continuous once sewn together. It will be better to choose a ? inch seam, as it will make the seam durable.

Step 3: Sew them up together

Depending on the quilt’s shape and size, the seam utilized to piece the quilt backing can run either horizontally or vertically.

To use the material well, opt for horizontal seams of 40 inches to 60 inches. Go for vertical seams that come in 61 inches or more than that.

Is It Possible To Make Quilt Backing From Any Fabric?

In short, yes, you can. But to know how exactly it’s done, check below!

1. Remove the selvages

Material selvages create ruffles on the length, and you must remove them before you use the fabric for quilt backing. Also, don’t forget to check the amount of width that will stay back after removing selvages.

2. Cut down a single panel backing

Quilting fabrics used for regular quilting work stand out as a suitable option for quilts with a width of 35 inches. But all materials do not carry the same width.

You don’t have to remove the selvages when using a single panel of material to do the quilt backing. It will get trimmed once the quilting work is completed.

3. Calculate the yardage of the quilt backing

Make sure to measure the height of the quilt and add 4 inches and 6 inches. After that, divide the numbers by 36, which will help you calculate the needed yardage.

Try to add a bit of extra fabric to enable the shrinkage.