Easiest Way to Calculate the Yardage and Piece the Backing for a Quilt | Learn How to Make a Quilt

In this video I will show you the easiest way to calculate the yardage and piece the backing for a quilt. This is a tried a true method I use for all our patterns.

[@jennynestler6111]

Heidi, I never learned how to piece a back, just muddled through piecing ugly, nonsensical backs. Until today! I literally yelled “Yes!” when I realized it worked! I took some of my first quilting classes from you at Quilter’s Ranch - you told me fused appliqué *was* “real” appliqué and it was just a simpler way to achieve the same end. I also took classes from Donna, but sadly never took anything beyond a class to make tops. Had I learned this tip from her, I would have a bazillion finished quilts vs tops I would need a pieces back for. I cannot thank you enough for sharing this video!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

You are very Welcome! Thanks for finding my videos.

[@judygrothause2353]

I just watched about 10 calculate-backing videos and yours was by far the most helpful! Thank you!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

You're very welcome!

[@cynthiaroberts3452]

I just came across your video. THANK YOU? I tried it and worked..the second time. The first time I folded my fabric wrong ..figured that out after I cut it up.🤦‍♀

[@marciaabdelrahman823]

I’m a beginner and was so nervous with piecing my backing. I watched several videos, and yours is the best!! I’ll be using this method from now on!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Thank you

[@margaretbachmeier5299]

@@TheWhimsicalWorkshop on your backing can you sew a 1/2 inch instead of 1/4 inch when piecing your backing.

[@raquelwright7451]

That is really a good idea on figuring the quilt backing. Thanks for sharing

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

You are so welcome!

[@stitchpenniesofficial]

I gave this video a thumbs up because any free information, and the effort put into videos, is very well deserving of a “thanks”, however, as you acknowledged, it is not economical and the waste is too much for me. I’d rather put the extra effort in figuring the math; fabric is quite expensive in Canada. I am a regular watcher of you channel and appreciate the info. 🙂

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Hi There, thank you for watching! I will add to our schedule my method for economical backing for a future post.

[@stephertick1]

Thank you soooo much for sharing such an easy way to sew the backing to avoid that down the middle seam. I've been quilting for years and had never been taught that particular trick! I love it.

[@gfish6979]

thank you so much. You gave excellent instructions on how to measure and cut.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Glad to hear this helped. Thanks for watching

[@belyndamulloy33]

I like the formula for the backing. I also like the 2 seams. Thank you

[@michelle.shackelford4520]

Thank you for making this video!!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Thanks for watching

[@cwelshworld]

I am buying backings for two quilts this week. This the help I needed!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Glad I could help :)

[@vickig7033]

Great! I'm not a great numbers person. I really like your easy formula and technique for the backing! I'm going to share it with my quilty friends.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Thank you!

[@dbrooks92]

That was awesome!! Thank you for the guidance! Worked very well!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Glad it helped!

[@dorothymartin813]

Thank you for posting this. Looks so simple. Going to try this. Thanks again.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

You are so welcome!

[@lindahollingshead4628]

I just try this method and it work great

[@shellyculver4239]

Oh I love this!! Thank you!!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Glad you like it!

[@outwestsomewhere397]

Just what I was looking for; thanks a bunch!

[@gerierwin6000]

Love this method.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@donnadelbrocco4050]

I am a little confused, when you cut it down in the last up to be 55 in.²., did you cut the second seam off where you would have one seam going up the back that’s not centered or… When you cut the access off would you cut the same amount off each and so that those seems are symmetrical?

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

it is personal preference. I usually like my seam off-center

[@Cat-fy4jy]

Thank you!!

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

You're welcome!

[@kbez331]

Did she trim BOTH sides that she sewed???

[@mavmom8420]

Thank you for the video! I watched and referred to it several times while piecing my backung. Is there a reason why you didn’t trim the second selvege? Is it because you knew you wouldn’t need that segment of the fabric? Thanks.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Yes you are right, thanks for watching

[@Crafty-n-Krazy]

Your calculations is for a square quilt top how do you do it if your quilt top is longer than it is wide???

[@margaretbachmeier5299]

Can you sew 1/2 inch instead of 1/4 inch. Thank You.

[@lorrainecote1924]

Can you use this way to make backing if using directional fabric

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

You would have to cut the one piece of fabric in half first and rotate one half so all the pattern is going in the same direction.

[@jenn9579]

I am a beginner so I am confused on your sample you displayed. Isn't the 58" x 2 supposed to be 56" ? It states to take the smallest measurement. Thank you for this video.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Yes this is a typo. So sorry for the confusion. KZbin does not let you edit videos one they are posted. but in the typed directions the second section should have been 56"

[@jenn9579]

@@TheWhimsicalWorkshop Thank you very much. Your explanation was very easy to understand. New subscriber!!

[@kbez331]

Would have been helpful to NOT use a square quilt. When calculating do you use largest side or smallest for yardage? Most quilts aren’t square

[@margaretbachmeier5299]

Can you sew more than 1/4 inch. How about 1/2 inch.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

yes that works too

[@stoptheinsanity]

You don't wash your fabric first?

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

No it is personal preference. Either way is fine

[@kschallert3569]

Why did you sew the selvage edge and then just cut it off? Can't you just cut the selvage off without sewing it. What's the point of sewing it? Correction: Well after watching the video two more times I see the selvage edge is still sewn together.... you said sew the edge 1/4 inch SA, then you said cut off the selvage, which is much more than 1/4 inch. Did you mean sew the 1/4 inch FROM THE COLORED EDGE of the selvage? And the end result has only one seam. What is the point of sewing a 2nd seam at all? Maybe this method is better for larger quilts? Is there aethod where you just add 10 inches of fabric to make it 55 inches? I don't know about other people but I need ALL the steps or I screw it up bad, like my mitered borders... you said leave 4 inches longer, I did, and my border was way too short. I fixed it after watching several other videos. I'm just saying that people who make tutorials already know everything about what theyre teaching and they may assume that the viewer understands what you logically already know, but we don't, at least I don't. I really like your no nonsense approach and how you get right to the point, but please remember that just cuz you know what you mean doesn't necessarily mean that we know which steps aren't there. I'll watch the video again and see if I can fill in the blanks. I'm looking forward to the sleeve video.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Hi There, first thank you for watching. I appreciate the feedback. Just like you learning to quilt I am still learning how to make videos for KZbin and how to include all the info without students in a class asking questions as we go. That is the best way to learn quilting. I cannot say sew a 1/4" from the colored edge because not all fabrics have a colored selvedge and that can be even more confusing. There are many way to figure your backing fabric and how to piece it. This is just my method since is it faster. The traditional way to piece a quilting back is with two seams to help spread the strain on the seams. But I have to say I always piece my back with one seam mainly because it is quicker.

[@kschallert3569]

@@TheWhimsicalWorkshop You're awesome. Thanks for explaining. And I really do appreciate so much what you KZbinrs do for the quilting community. 4 years ago I would never have attempted the things I do now, but with your help I am actually becoming a real bona fide quilter! I lost my home in the 2017 fires in Northern California and have been living in a 35 foot RV since. I know it seems crazy to take up quilting in an RV but I'm telling you, it has changed my life. I am happy, and I am creating beautiful things for beautiful people and I learned everything from KZbin. I also make and sell cool handbags, backpacks, wallets, etc, from cotton, vinyl and mostly cork. Again, all thanks to you people on KZbin! God bless you!

[@kschallert3569]

Thanks for this, but I'm just wondering why you seem so annoyed, or maybe bored. You just don't look like you're enjoying at all having to share this info. Maybe cuz you've already done it a zillion times? This is my first time ever seeing this method and I'm going to try it right now. Maybe think about how very valuable these types of videos are for people just learning. You really are providing something special to the quilting community, be happy, and proud of your gifts.

[@TheWhimsicalWorkshop]

Again these videos were early in my channel and I may have been having an off day. I know I was shooting these at the height of the Pandemic and something else may have been going on. I have learned to only shoot videos in the right state of mind whenever possible. But since this is a free service I am doing, I have to fit the videos in around my day job.