Easy Quilt Backing Method

Confession: I don’t bother to trim my quilt backing down to the exact size listed in the patterns. I did list the exact size for backing in my quilt pattern because I know some people need that, but I don’t try to achieve exact measurements on the backing when I make my own quilts. Here’s why:

1. If you don’t have a giant cutting mat and a dedicated space the size of your kitchen table to put it on, it’s logistically difficult to cut the backing to the exact size needed for quilt backing. I sell a lot of the quilts I make, and I don’t even have that dedicated space yet. So, if I don’t have it, someone who is new to quilting probably doesn’t have that either.
2. I am picky about a lot of things. In fact, I have a lot of neurotic fears when it comes to the quilts I make and sell. BUT, cutting my quilt backing to have exactly 3-4″ extra all the way around the quilt just isn’t something I worry about.
3. I’m just going to trim the backing and batting down when I square the quilt anyway, so it being perfectly squared and sized exactly just isn’t important to how fabulous the finished quilt looks.
4. I feel like trying to keep an exactly sized and squared backing in line with an exactly sized and squared batting while you baste it would cause a whole lot of unnecessary frustration that I’d rather avoid. Quilting is supposed to be fun.

All that said, if you are one of the people who does take the time to make sure your quilt backing is perfectly squared and sized, we can still be friends. If it’s important to your process, it’s an important thing for you to do, regardless of what anybody else says.

No fuss method to making your quilt backing

This is the method I’ve always used for making my quilt backings. When I first started making quilts on my own (without my grandmother helping me/doing most of the work), I didn’t consult anyone or Youtube/blog posts on making the backing. I decided on my own that this is how it was done. I’m sure I’m not the only one who does their backing this way, but I was actually pretty surprised to find out that people actually do cut their backings to an exact size before basting. Not that being exact is a bad thing, it just never occurred to me to do this.

Step 1 – Cut your backing pieces

Lay your quilt top out on a flat surface. It’s perfectly fine to use the floor or your bed.

I have my backing fabric folded in half, selvage to selvage. Leave about 3-4 inches to the side of the quilt top. You will need a little extra batting and backing to the sides of your quilt top. I just eyeball it.

Line the selvage edges up along a seam in your quilt top. This will keep it so that your estimated cuts don’t get too wonky on you.

Leave 3-4″ extra on the other side of your quilt, fold the backing back over again, still keeping the selvage edges in line.

You should have created a fold to put your scissors in on that left side of your quilt. Cut along that fold, cutting the backing fabric apart. This is starting to form the two pieces you need for your backing fabric.

Trim the fabric to the right side of your quilt top so that the folded over section is roughly even with the 3-4″ over hang on the right side of quilt top.

You should now have your two backing pieces, and you’re ready to start piecing it.

I plan to use the excess of this one to make my binding.

***Note: If your quilt top is too long for two pieces, just fold it over again (and again as many times as needed) until your backing is large enough. It may also be more fabric efficient to line your backing up along the length of your quilt top and have a vertical seam in your backing.

Step 2 – Sew your backing pieces together

Place your backing pieces pretty sides together, line your selvages up, and pin or clip them together. If your backing fabric has a directional print, just be careful that you are making sure the print on both pieces will be going in the same direction. I do keep the selvages on the fabric for this because they are helpful in the next step.

We just eyeballed the cuts. So, one piece of your backing will likely be longer than the other. That’s ok. After you do your quilting, you’re going to have to trim that off when you square up your quilt.

Line your foot up along the edges of the selvage. This is a little bigger than our typical 1/4″ seam, but it doesn’t matter for this step.

After the two pieces are sewn together, I like to use my scissors to trim off the selvage.

You can see from the picture that there is plenty of over hang in the backing. Trim the excess backing off, leaving 3-4″ to the sides of your quilt top.

***Note: If you are going to send your quilt off to a longarmer, they may require more that 3-4 inches. So check with them first to be sure you have enough backing material.

Where and what direction to put your backing seam?

Good question. You do have some options here.

-Where to put your seam?

Let’s use my quilt top pictured above as an example.

One option is to try to line your seam up with the middle of your quilt. Some people would be bothered by a seam that is obviously not centered. You know who you are out there. One disadvantage to this would be that you have excess to trim off on both sides of your quilt. This will give you two smaller pieces leftover instead of one bigger piece. If the backing fabric was a splurge for you, you may prefer one large piece leftover so that you aren’t as limited as to what you can make with it.

You can line the bottom edge up with your batting. This will give you a seam that is NOT centered, but you will have one large excess piece as opposed to two smaller pieces. This would allow you to cut larger pieces from it when you decide to use it for something else.

Only you know which option is best for you.

-Vertical vs Horizontal?

The quilt top I used for the pictures is square, so vertical vs horizontal seam makes no difference as far as what is most efficient for your fabric, but for a rectangle quilt, it may matter.

Most of the time, I just use whichever method is most fabric efficient, but if you have a directional print, you may need to chose based on which one will keep the print going in the direction you want it to go.

If your quilt is small enough for the width of fabric to cover it (or if your fabric is wide enough), you may not need a seam at all. I do have a post about basting where I used a baby quilt as the example. This quilt was small enough for a seamless backing if you want to check it out to see how I did that.

I do have a quilt pattern releasing soon that would work well with this backing technique. The backing yardage is already calculated for you, but I figured it based on this backing method. I will post the link to the pattern once I release it. Edit to add that the pattern is now available here.

I hope you found this post useful.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment or email me.

Happy quilting!