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Does the 'back' have to be bigger than the 'top'? (Moderated by Sharon1952)
Posted on: 1/1/15 6:07 PM ET
Okay, so: I thought I was finally at the stage of actually quilting my first quilt.
Both 'sides' are basically quilt tops, if you look at them. Nothing fancy, just squares of fabric all pieced together.
I was researching how to actually attach the top, batting and 'backing' (i.e top #2) together, so that they could be basted and quilted on my Bernina, to make a quilt. Which is where I ran into trouble.....
According to the nice Youtube lady my backing needs to be bigger than my top by 4 inches! Ai-yai-yai!
Do I now have to change my original reversible quilt plan? Should I try to make top#2 bigger?? Should I just go for a backing fabric (I don't really want to do this - the front and back were quite different and provided a nice surprise when flipped over)
Help!
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Both 'sides' are basically quilt tops, if you look at them. Nothing fancy, just squares of fabric all pieced together.
I was researching how to actually attach the top, batting and 'backing' (i.e top #2) together, so that they could be basted and quilted on my Bernina, to make a quilt. Which is where I ran into trouble.....
According to the nice Youtube lady my backing needs to be bigger than my top by 4 inches! Ai-yai-yai!
Do I now have to change my original reversible quilt plan? Should I try to make top#2 bigger?? Should I just go for a backing fabric (I don't really want to do this - the front and back were quite different and provided a nice surprise when flipped over)
Help!
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Absolute beginner. Hoping to move up to Advanced Beginner in 6 months. Have a TON of fabric to work through.
Posted on: 1/1/15 6:28 PM ET
I am not a quilter, but would adding a border to the back make it big enough ?
Tanya
Tanya
Posted on: 1/1/15 6:29 PM ET
In reply to fabricaddiction
Yes, you do need to increase the size of one of the quilts. The suggestion to make the 'backing' bigger by 4 inches is correct. That means at least 2 extra inches on each side. I like to go a little bigger with the backing so it is 6 or an extra 3 inches all around. Depending on how much quilting the more dense quilting means the backing needs to be larger. If you tie the quilt then just a couple inches would be OK. I would suggest adding another border on one of the quilts, so it is 6 inches larger then the other quilt. That means the extra border needs to be cut at 3.5 inches so the new finished quilt will be overall 6 inches larger. Does that make sense?
-- Edited on 1/1/15 at 6:31 PM --
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-- Edited on 1/1/15 at 6:31 PM --
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Janome MC6700 Bernina Q16Plus Bernina 240 Juki MO735 Singer 201-2 Singer 221-1
Posted on: 1/1/15 6:37 PM ET
The reason for the extra is when it is quilted, it will take the backing and binding and grab it a little. The machine needs to have something to grab onto.
Both the backing AND the batting layer have to be 4 inches larger than the quilt top. As you quilt it, you are gradually reducing the size. While nota lot of size is reduced, you have to have some for the machine to work with.
Clear as mud?
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Both the backing AND the batting layer have to be 4 inches larger than the quilt top. As you quilt it, you are gradually reducing the size. While nota lot of size is reduced, you have to have some for the machine to work with.
Clear as mud?
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Currently working on a boys quilt. Sized 40 x 40 inches. It has chickens, chicken eggs, cows, fish, sea life, afield with water, Dachshunds, mini sailboats, and many colorful other fabrics. The blocks are a 4 x 4 finished size, so many of them are needed.
This my 4th quilt in 7 months.
Bernina 630, Bernina embroidery module, Pfaff 2036, Bernina 1200DA serger, Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L
Gardening info: zone 8 standard map and zone 6 Sunset map
This my 4th quilt in 7 months.
Bernina 630, Bernina embroidery module, Pfaff 2036, Bernina 1200DA serger, Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L
Gardening info: zone 8 standard map and zone 6 Sunset map
Posted on: 1/1/15 6:50 PM ET
In reply to Warbler
Ah, X#$g@8***! Okay, sure, fine. I like your idea of putting the border.
And it doesn't matter that both sides are patchwork?
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And it doesn't matter that both sides are patchwork?
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Absolute beginner. Hoping to move up to Advanced Beginner in 6 months. Have a TON of fabric to work through.
Posted on: 1/1/15 6:52 PM ET
In reply to Learn To Sew
I kind of follow what you're saying. I'm going to go on faith and do what you said, because I think it'll become clear when I actually do it.
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Absolute beginner. Hoping to move up to Advanced Beginner in 6 months. Have a TON of fabric to work through.
Posted on: 1/1/15 7:02 PM ET
In reply to fabricaddiction
Nope, it doesn't matter one bit... and it will look like you intended it to look that way.
Borders are not difficult. However the quilt without the border, I recommend to stitch less than a 1/4 inch around the circumference of the quilt so it does come undone while you are quilting it. That is partly why borders are used as it stabilizes the quilt. If the edges are just patchwork the seams can separate.... I hope I am not adding to much work. It will pay off in the long run and you'll be glad for it. 

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Borders are not difficult. However the quilt without the border, I recommend to stitch less than a 1/4 inch around the circumference of the quilt so it does come undone while you are quilting it. That is partly why borders are used as it stabilizes the quilt. If the edges are just patchwork the seams can separate.... I hope I am not adding to much work. It will pay off in the long run and you'll be glad for it. 

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Janome MC6700 Bernina Q16Plus Bernina 240 Juki MO735 Singer 201-2 Singer 221-1
Posted on: 1/1/15 7:05 PM ET
In reply to fabricaddiction
Basically what Learn is saying is the quilt will shrink as it is quilted. Adding the extra batting and fabric to the back will sure the quilt can be uniformly trimmed when all is done.
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Janome MC6700 Bernina Q16Plus Bernina 240 Juki MO735 Singer 201-2 Singer 221-1
Posted on: 1/1/15 7:05 PM ET
In reply to fabricaddiction
No it does not matter.....and, the top, batting and backing can be the same size and bound before quilting..
The "reasoning" for the larger cut of batting and backing is to allow for "shrinkage" when the quilting is done. The excess can also be used for attaching the unquilted quilt to a quilting frame.
The excess is cut away before the binding is added.
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The "reasoning" for the larger cut of batting and backing is to allow for "shrinkage" when the quilting is done. The excess can also be used for attaching the unquilted quilt to a quilting frame.
The excess is cut away before the binding is added.
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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
Posted on: 1/1/15 9:24 PM ET
Hmmm... It didn't occur to me that the batting and backing would draw in any more than the top... I thought the reason to cut the backing and batting larger was to have something to hold onto when quilting near the edge of the top, particularly for fmq.
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Tess
"I am a degenerate art supply junkie" - Jane Davenport
“I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." - Gilda Radner
"I am a degenerate art supply junkie" - Jane Davenport
“I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." - Gilda Radner
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