Backing Basics: Using Wide Back Fabrics
Wide back fabrics can be a wonderful option as a backing to your quilt. Let’s check them out as an option so we are set up for success the next time you want to send a wide back as your quilt back!
What are wide backs? Wide back fabrics are those used in the quilting process that are made much wider than the usual 40-44” widths of typical quilting cottons. Usually they are 108” wide and you purchase them by the yard. Some minkys and other substrates can come in widths around 60” and 90” so be sure to check the details when shopping.
The main advantage of using a wider width backing is it does not need to be pieced together to be wide enough for your quilt top. Just one piece of fabric will do the trick! Um, yes please! I know from first hand experience that many of you dislike piecing backings so much you are willing to pay me to do it. And many of you do it yourself but struggle in the process. We totally get it. The other really cool thing is lately more and more fabric companies and designers are offering some excellent prints in these widths. Art Gallery, Ruby Star Society, Moda, and many others are jumping on the wide back wagon and we love it!
With that being said, wide backs do have some nuances that need to be considered and addressed when selected as your backing fabric. Just like any other quilting cotton, wide-backs come in a wide variety of quality but present different issues. Here are our thoughts:
I usually try to stay out of your business when it comes to pre-washing fabrics, however, for wide backs I always recommend pre-washing.
Cheaper box store wide backs are more prone to color bleed and sometimes have strange qualities due to the chemicals used to make them (stiffness, funky smells, and a waxy texture.) These last qualities can produce less than desired quilting results as the needle holes may not heal well and the thread may lay on top of the fabric rather than nestle in as preferred.
Almost all wide backs I’ve encountered have a higher shrinkage percentage than most regular quilting cottons. Pre-washing will ensure the majority of this happens before it is attached to your beautiful quilt top, preventing disappointing distortion or puckering after that first wash as a completed quilt.
Cutting and Squaring:
Wide backs are big and therefore hard for anyone to cut straight. You, quilt shops, the little Etsy shop you love to buy from... it’s a tall order. More often than not, it’s not cut straight and it’s not uncommon to have to trim significantly off one side or another (or both) to get it even enough to load onto the machine. Be sure to check yours when it arrives and trim it up. Remember, I need squares or rectangles, not parallelograms, for best results. I’ve seen wide backs that need as much as 6” trimmed off each side to be able to load them onto my machine.
Many folks, and some shops, prefer to rip it rather than cut it. Those that do feel this means it’s along the grain, straight, and square. The reality is it is and isn’t. Ripping correctly will get the fabric on the grain, but be sure to rip the other 3 sides so it is truly square. Often times, the ripping process creates an edge that is distorted or stretched a bit and needs to be trimmed with a straight edge to avoid that problem area being included in your quilt or hampering the loading process on my end.
Trim those selvages! Because these fabrics are so wide and the weave of the selvage is tighter than the rest of the fabric, the edges will be smaller than the fabric between the selvages, preventing the backing overall from laying flat. Trim or rip those off so we are set up for better results.
Order extra and measure the final piece.
I know these two steps are at the very beginning and very end of the process but now that we’ve chatted a bit it’s easier to understand why we need to do both. Remember, we started with 108” of backing fabric. But we’ve taken the time to wash it, rip or trim it, and square it up. At this point, it’s not unreasonable to assume it’s 5-10% smaller than it originally measured. Is it still big enough for your quilt top? Don’t forget to calculate in the extra 8” (or more) of width and length your longarmer requires! To ensure that it will be, both order a bit extra on the front end, and measure it for confirmation on the back end.
Wide back fabrics have definitely earned an important place in the quilting world. Now that you know the best way to prepare them for your quilt we can both work with your selection with the confidence that we are set up for success! I look forward to seeing any wide backs you decide to use!
