A modern quilt made using the Orla Quilt Pattern by Kitchen Table Quilting and fabric by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman fabrics.

Using Extra Wideback Fabric as Background Fabric

You know I like to make scrap quilts and that is not just because they are pretty and colorful and just the most fun to sew. I also like to make scrap quilts because they are resourceful and make good use of the fabric that I already purchased.

Another way that I like to make good use of my fabric purchase is by using extra backing fabric. You can certainly do this with either 44" wide fabric or 108" wide fabric, but I find that I generally buy colorful, large scale prints when I am buying 44" wide fabric so it doesn't work as well as a background fabric — I just add those leftovers to my stash and treat them like normal yardage. 

The Orla Quilt in Collection CF — Kitchen Table Quilting

More and more often, I have been buying wideback fabric for my quilts because (1) they don't require a seam, (2) they tend to be a little less expensive than buying 44" wide fabric for a quilt backing, and (3) there are fun, cute options available. Many of these fabrics are basic prints (Speckled, Widescreen, etc.) so they have an added benefit: they work well as background fabric. 

Since I mostly make lap quilts, after cutting away the extra wideback fabric, I *might* have enough fabric left for the background fabric on another project and being resourceful like this brings me so much joy. I am truly a fabric nerd.

The Math

Let's say for example, that I am making the Verity Quilt (which is my next pattern). I normally stock up on backing fabrics and buy 4 yards of 44" wide fabric or 2 yards of 108" wide fabric (lots of times 108" fabric is available by the yard or by the 1/2 yard and I would always rather have a little too much than too little).

Making Good Use of Wideback Fabric in Your Quilting Project - Kitchen Table Quilting

This pattern happens to require 3 1/2 yards of 44" wide backing fabric or 1 3/4 yard of 108" wide fabric so I already know I'm going to have some extra fabric from the length as well as the width. 

The quilt top is 54" x 66" and I want at least 4" extra on each side so I need a backing piece that is 62" x 74". I'm going to start by cutting off the extra width — I will cut off a 34" (108 - 74 = 34).

Making Good Use of Wideback Fabric in Your Quilting Project - Kitchen Table Quilting

Now I need to cut off the extra length, so I will cut off a 10" piece (72 - 62 = 10).

Making Good Use of Wideback Fabric in Your Quilting Project - Kitchen Table Quilting

Total Leftover Fabric Yardage

The two pieces that I have left are 34" x 72" and 10" x 74", but how much fabric is that really? You are left with the equivalent of about 2 yards of fabric!

Is Wideback Fabric Different from Regular Quilting Yardage?

You might find the texture of the fabric a little different from regular quilting yardage. Ruby Star Society uses sateen for their wideback prints and other manufacturer's fabrics might feel a little different but I have done this many, many times and have never had an issue. 

The Orla Quilt in Collection CF — Kitchen Table Quilting

Which Wideback Prints Would Work Well?

The two that I have used are Speckled and Widescreen, but here are a few other suggestions:

A vibrant rainbow quilt using the Ruby Quilt Pattern by Kitchen Table Quilting. The quilt is beautifully crafted with a rainbow of colorful scraps, creating a stunning visual display of patchwork

Cost Comparison

Are Wideback Prints Less Expensive than Using Standard Yardage?

This is going to depend on a lot of factors, but let's compare purchasing 4 yards of 44" wide fabric to 2 yards of 108" fabric which is what you would need to make most lap size quilts. I will use the prices at Fat Quarter Shop for comparison since they have a good selection of wideback prints.

4 yards of Architextures Grey Crosshatch x $11.48/yd = $45.92

2 yards of Widescreen Grey Crosshatch x $19.98/yd = $39.96

Not only is it cheaper, but using the example above of the Verity Quilt Pattern, if I had purchased 4 yards of 44" wide fabric, I would have the equivalent of less than a yard leftover and if I had purchased 2 yards of 108" wide fabric, I would have the equivalent of 2 yards leftover.

A vibrant rainbow quilt using the Ruby Quilt Pattern by Kitchen Table Quilting. The quilt is beautifully crafted with a rainbow of colorful scraps, creating a stunning visual display of patchwork

In Conclusion . . .

I am always looking for ways to be more efficient and this has been a fun way to make good use of pretty fabric. I hope it helps you make use of what you have!

Comments 3

Diana R on

Absolutely use wideback fabric for background of quilts. It is even cheaper to find remnant wideback fabrics to use for scrappy backgrounds.

Nancie V. on

I’ve always been sure that wide backs were an economical way to purchase fabric but greatly appreciate you showing the math to prove it. Bonus when you find them on sale!

Diane T on

Love the idea of using backing fabric as background. Timing is perfect, I just finished pulling batting off of the “overage edges” from a few recently long-armed quilts and was wondering what I could do with that extra yardage!!

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