Quilt Anatomy
Quilt Backing
The fabric layer on the underside of a finished quilt.
The quilt backing is the bottom layer of the quilt sandwich. Backings are typically made from quilting cotton cut several inches larger than the quilt top on all sides to allow for take-up during quilting. Wide backing fabric (108+ inches) eliminates the need for seams on larger quilts. Pieced backings use leftover fabrics and are a creative way to continue the front design on the back. The backing must be smooth and taut when layered to prevent wrinkles and tucks in the finished quilt.
Related Terms
Practice makes perfect.
NiftyFifty connects quilters from all 50 states through block swaps, bees, and quilt-alongs. Great place to put new techniques to work.