Scissor Queen

I use regular quilt fabric I buy on sale. I snip and rip to the right length and I also snip and rip off the selvedges. Then I sew with a good 5/8ths inch seam and press to one side.

OCquilter

oops, yes I did. Thanks for catching that.

quilttiger

I used to hate backing the quilts until I found this book during a shop hop. Over Easy with subtitle of Creative Ideas for Pieced Quilt backs by Lerlene Nevaril. The book shows how the backings can be pieced with leftover fabrics, extra blocks, panels, etc. It has acted as a springboard for my own ideas. This book will NEVER leave my library !

Just Me...

I try to use the wide backs as well!

JNCT14

90" or 120" wide muslin backing. Piece of cake. Also any wide printed backing. Marshall Dry Goods or Connecting Threads has them. No fussing with seams unless you are birthing the quilt.

ArtsyOne

I usually add a border to the back of my quilts to add some interest, but that gives me the problem of centering everything. I work on my living room hardwood floor. First I lay out the batting which is always much larger than the front of my quilt. I spray it with basting spray and then lay and flatten the top onto it face up. Then on the batting I measure 5" around the outside of my top and cut along that line all the way around. Then I flip it over so that all I see is the batting. I use a marker to mark 5" in from the edge and now I know where the front reaches. From that, I can mark the center if I want to or I can just use spray adhesive to lay the backing face up onto the batting using that 5" line as my guide to keep the backing in the same position as the front.

Vat

One of the best solutions these days is to buy Fat Backs. That is fabrics that are 108" wide. They are wonderful and you don't have to do any piecing.

duckydo

There are lots of ways to make a backing, if you are going to send it out to a LA, it makes it so much easier on the LA if you make the backing at least 8" longer and 8" wider, then if there is any shrinkage when quilting there will be enough fabric. Also if it is squared up it is easier and faster for the LA to get your quilt on the quilter. I charge extra if I have to square up a backing..
If I have any fabric leftover from the quilt I try to use it in the backing. But the best way for me to make a backing is to measure the length, plus 8", then double that amount. Take one length of fabric plus 8" cut cut off the selvages, then measure the width of that fabric, subtract that from the measurement of the width of the quilt, divide that number by 2, then with the second length of fabric, trim off the selvage and cut two pieces of fabric and sew one piece to each side of the first length. Clear as mud, huh. You can also google how to make a quilt backing and it will explain it better than I just did.

Janette

I usually go to www.backsidefabrics.com. This site deals only with wide fabrics, usually 108" or wider. She has a good range of fabrics at reasonable prices, plus often has good sales. I buy these even when the quilt I'm backing is 60". I take what's left over and may use it for a pillowcase or generally I put these large pieces aside and later donate them to a group that makes quilts for homeless children.

topstitch

I agree that the best solution to the problem is buy the 108 in. fabric. It really is less expensive, looks better, and is easier. As a LA quilter I so often see quilts with pieced backing where the seams are stitched too tightly. This can result in skipped stitches.