Part of our project for our New Year’s weekend sew along will be to bust some stash making backings. You can choose to keep these for your own HS quilts or to send them in for our volunteer quilters to use. I’ve written some guidelines below but feel free to email if you have any questions.
Backing Options
▪3.5 yards of a single fabric seamed horizontally and is approx 63×84 (length =two widths of fabric so will vary some from backing to backing)
▪An Off-Center 4 patch made from 2 or 4 coordinating backings
▪A scrappy backing – these can either be multicolored or from one color family and should not have any seams that will fall near the edges of the quilt.
Backing should be approximately 62×80 after squaring for our standard HS quilt ( if you are using a single fabric and your backing is greater than 80 inches it is NOT necessary to trim it down. )
Scrappy backs or single fabric backs are most appropriate for tied quilts that will have the backing pulled to the front for the binding.
While I will leave a selvage on a top or bottom edge of the backing. They should be trimmed off where they’re going to be sewn into a seam.
If you tear your fabric, the torn edge should be neatened up with a rotary cutter and without strings before seaming.
Instructions for an Off Center 4 Patch can be found at this link.
An example of a single color family, scrappy backing can be seen at this link and I will be posting some more specific instructions for a similar backing just before our sew along.
HeartStrings Quilt Project 