Quilt Backing

Make you quilt label your regular way, then put a back on it (like a pillowcase and turn, stitch the area you left open to turn.  Sew your label on sewing only three sides.  You now have a pocket to keep small pieces of fabric you used,(for future mending, etc.) or your journal while making the quilt or any other information you would like to keep with the quilt.

When you finish your quilt and add the sleeve to it, use a ruler slid into the sleeve.  It works like a charm to hang your quilt up.  Just make sure to make slits in the sleeve to match up with the holes in your ruler.  Or drill holes if your ruler doesn't have any.  Any size of ruler can be used.

Having problems using a pen to document your quilt label? So did I. Now I don't use a pen. I actually embroider the label with the name of the quilt, my name, date of completion, techniques use, and the quilt number.

I had a hard time keeping the backing of my quilt still, it kept on shifting on me (I have tryed to pin it and have had no success.)

Then I rembered a glue stick. I went and purchased one , and I rubbed it on the fabric and vola!! it sticked to the backing .

I also used it on the top of the quilt to hold it down, just make sure you press where you appily the glue,

               Happy Quilting

              Jayne Taylor

Slats from the bottom of old window shades (worn out or picked up at yard sales) are perfect to slide in the back pocket of your wall hanging.  They are smooth and slide in easily and are just heavy enough.

One of the favorite ways I like to do to add that special touch to the back of my quilts is to add an interesting quilt label.  I make an extra block identical to the ones used on the front and attach that on the back.  I blind stitch or edge stitch around the block, personalize it with my name and address and date along with my quilter's name and the name of the quilt.  Sometimes I need to sub in a neutral for the middle of the block so the information shows up.  It always is an ooohh and aaahh moment when it is shown at Show and Tell at the guild meetings! 

A fabric's grain of the fabric can be an important aspect. Before cutting the backing fabric, the grain of the fabric is straight and you are cutting evenly along the grain. Incorrectly cutting the backing will make the pucker or bunch. In order for the backing to lie completely flat, you should always cut with the lengthwise grain. Cutting on the crosswise grain may save some fabric, but the backing will not lie completely flat, making the quilting process more difficult.

The backing is the bottom-most layer of the quilt. The front and the backing "sandwiches" the batting and the quilting goes through all three layers. When choosing a fabric for the backing, use the same ground rules you did for choosing fabric for the blocks. Keep the color scheme in mind and make sure you like the piece you choose—the backing is the most amount of one fabric that is on the quilt. Choose a quality material that you are sure will hold up to washing and normal wear and tear.

If you choose to machine quilt the layers of your quilt, you should take this into account when looking for a backing fabric. Since the sewing machine can push the layers apart, you should choose a stiffer backing fabric with a bit of structure. Having a stiffer fabric will ensure the all three layers of your quilt are successfully threaded through the machine. You also want to avoid using slippery or floppy fabrics for your backing. Slippery fabric could make the job of machine quilting a good deal more difficult.