Tip #11

Here are a few tips for sewing a back for your larger quilts.

Often you have to sew two widths of fabric together to cover the back of a quilt PLUS the extra at the top, bottom and sides. The amount you leave as an overhang depends on how you will be quilting it. Check wth your long arm quilter to see what they prefer. Mine likes about 5 inches extra on all sides.

Below is my diagram to help explain how I do it.

To calculate the amount fo fabric I need, I use 40 inches as my Width of Fabric. With good quality quilters cotton you sometimes find it can be 42 inches. But I calculate using 40inches.

In the diagram below you see my fabrics that will equal 80 inches wide and the length of the quilt plus the extra.

Lay the two pieces good sides facing. I sew the seam on one side with the selvage still on.  I sew about 1 1/2 inches away from the selvage. When it's sewn I cut away the extra leaving a 1/4 to 1/2 inch seam allowance.

I am not a fan of a centre seam on a back fabric although there is nothing wrong with it if you want to leave it so.

If not, you can place the panels good sides facing and sew the other selvage side together in the same way. (see diagram below). Cut away the selvage leaving a seam allowance. You are left with a tube shape.

Using a scissor cut along ONE of the folds. (the fold in the fabric when it comes off the bolt)

When you open up the fabric you will have your seam lines at about the first quarter and the third quarter of the back.

I find doing it this way is less cumbersome and I do have control of the many metres of fabric as I sew.

I like to iron my back seam open so it is less bulky. (another good tip!)

Tip #10

#10

When you quilt by machine it is recommended you lengthen your stitch length. It will make the stitching smooth and will not pull on the layers of fabric and batting.

If your machine is computerized, every time you shut it off it will reset to the standard stitch length (mine is 2.2 mm). When you turn it on again you'll need to reset your stitch length.

I place a post-it note on the machine to remind me to switch the stitch length and remind me of what length I was using.

Scrap quilt. I found a bunch of unexciting triple rail blocks in a box
so I put them together and found  a way to
make them look good! I'm happy I turned  some nothing into something.

Tip #9

#9

Perhaps you've noticed antique quilts in museums with a very visible centre fold line. The eye picks up that middle crease very easily.

The best way to store your quilts is to fold them in thirds avoiding that centre crease.

If you want to be extra cautious, you can roll up a piece of fabric and place it in the fold then fold your quilt over that tubular barrier. That will help avoid a visible crease.

Some collectors like to lay their quilts on a guest bed and have them flat. The quilts are just piled up one over the other. I think that makes them more difficult to access but at least they lay flat. 

Another interesting way is to roll them. I use a pool noodle as my centre support. I use this method for my textile art work.

For the quilts that are in use, I fold them in thirds then roll them into a large cylinder shape. They stand upright in a basket near the couch readily available! Love to see all the colours!!