A backing question ?

I agree with Taria -- I've pin basted almost an entire quilt, only to find that one side didn't quite "make it". Break out the wine. ;)

However, I'm wondering if there might not be another reason, too. In machine quilting, where the feed dogs sort of take up more fabric on the underneath side than on the top, could this be a reason for needing a bit extra? Yes, I know that basting should stop some of that shifting, but is there a possibility that the backing "shrinks" a bit because of the feed dogs?

For hand quilting, I do like the backing to be larger than the top so that I can bring it around to the front and protect the batting from shredding during the quilting process. So there's another reason, at least for me.

Oh, and I suspect that it's less critical to have a larger backing on a mini than on a larger quilt, unless my hypothesis/question above is valid. Just some thoughts.

I think it's not so much that it gets taken up more, but that unless it's a bit bigger, it would be almost impossible to baste the layers and keep everything flat.

I was taught 2 inches bigger each direction, which really isn't all that much.

I've also heard that you can bind fairly early in the quilting process, I did this on one quilt recently which had only minimal itd quilting to hold it all together and I've had no issues on quilting it further.

A thought occurs is that if you do always have extra round the edges, you've always got the option of binding with backing if any problems arise with fabric for the binding (like you use it for another project!).

Anne

Oh, Lordy! I remember a quilt that I basted three times because I somehow got the (directional print) backing cockeyed twice and had the wretched thing nearly all basted before I realized that one corner was short or it was off the square...........AAARRRRRGH! Finally got it right, but not before I had used all the bad words I knew and invented a few more (I think blagstagging was one of the new ones, though I may have learned that one from Yosemite Sam, LOL).

Worst thing was, the quilt was a disaster, and if the backing had been crooked or pieced it wouldn't have mattered a bit in the long run. That was the quilt with a million teeny squares, done on point, and some of the black triangles and squares were such poor quality fabric that they ripped in the wash. I still have not had the energy to appliqué proper black fabric over the torn bits. Oddly enough, I still use that quilt on the sofabed for company and they ooooh and aaaah over it even though it was a sad mistake.......go figure!

=46or me, it's because I have never been able to exactly match two pieces of fabric, with batting inbetween, not to mention all those basting pins....and have everything align up perfectly! =20

So....I make both the batting and the backing larger than the top. I center the top on both, then happily pin away knowing that extra bit all the way around gives me lots of 'elbow' room.

-Irene

I just discussed this with Dh who is an engineer and can think much more logically than me :-). Here's what we think might be the "technical" explanation. Even tho' the tension might be correct on your machine (with top and bobbin threads meeting and joining evenly i.e.: in the middle), the batting is heavy compared to the top and bottom fabrics and sort of makes the threads join more to either the front or back. Add to that the fact that the presser foot (even if it is a walking foot) is holding the top fabric more firmly than the feed dogs are holding and moving the bottom fabric. This means that when the threads meet up and join, the threads put more tension on the bottom fabric and pull it up just a hair more than the top fabric is pulled down. Remember that this is also due to the batting which puts a big fat squishy space (relatively speaking) between the two fabric layers. Try a little experiment. Make two scrap quilt sandwich blocks with the same top fabrics, the same batting and the same bottom fabrics all exactly the same size. Quilt one block with the top fabric facing up and the other block with the backing fabric facing up. I bet you'd find that which ever fabric is facing the feed dogs would end up just a bit smaller. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd do it myself but I already know what would happen :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Howdy!

Perhaps it's a conspiracy thought up by the fabric manufacturers to get us to buy more fabric.

I like to have a wide bit [6"] of extra fabric on the back to fold over the batting (like SandyF says) and to hang onto while quilting the borders. It's how I learned/taught myself, and it's the way I continue to work. Seems to be going okay, so far. ;-) Often that long, leftover strip goes into the scrap pile, sometimes it's used for binding.

Whatever you're working on, Patti: we wanna' see!

Ragm> This has been a puzzle to me for a while, but only became relevant to

I think it is a control thing with me. I like to begin with the batting a little bigger and the backing even bigger. That way I can keep a close eye on all three and make sure nobody does anything sneaky. If anything wanders off the straight and narrow, there's no harm done. Most of my heirloom beautiful sewing patterns recommend that any tucks, embroidery or embellisment be done before cutting out the garment pieces. The principle is the same I think. An interesting question, Pat. I've enjoyed the responses. Polly

I am not sure. I know my family has always done wrapped bindings--wrapping from back to front. So we always have our backing larger than the front for a specific purpose, but we cut our bindings bigger than most quilters do. Debra in VA See my quilts at

You know, I had never thought of that >gI think it is for the ease of sandwiching more than anything. If the