Learn How to Make a Quilt - Piece your Backing Together | Fat Quarter Shop

We’re putting our backing for the Ultimate Beginner Quilt together in this video. Kimberly shows you how to assemble the quilt back and the proper measurements if you’re going to send your quilt top to a long arm quilter. These measurements also work if you’re going to quilt this at home! Please visit the Sashing and Borders video if you haven't already so you can see how to put together your quilt top • Learn How to Make a Qu...
ULTIMATE BEGINNER QUILT SERIES
▸Fabric Cutting Chart - www.fatquartershop.com/media/...
▸ Fabric Requirements & Coloring Sheets: www.fatquartershop.com/media/...
▸ The Ultimate Beginner Quilt on the Blog - blog.fatquartershop.com/categ...
▸ Quilting Supplies for Beginners: blog.fatquartershop.com/quilt...
ABOUT THE COURSES
Welcome to The Ultimate Beginner Quilt by Fat Quarter Shop, a free quilting tutorial series with quilt patterns and lessons designed just for beginners! Even if you have zero sewing experience, this is the free quilt class for you!
The Ultimate Beginner Quilt Series is sponsored by Moda Fabrics and EverSewn.
FREE BEGINNER QUILTING TUTORIALS IN THIS SERIES
Get Ready:
▸ Quilting Supplies for Beginners: • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ How to Use a Sewing Machine: • Learn How to Make a Qu...
Make the Blocks:
▸ Block 1: Stripes • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 2: Nine Patch • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 3: Picture Window • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 4: Half Square Triangle Four Patch • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 5: Hourglass Four Patch • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 6: Lattice • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 7: Flying Geese • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 8: Sawtooth Star • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Block 9: Friendship Star • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Finishing: Sashing and Borders • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Piece Your Quilt Backing • Learn How to Make a Qu...
▸ Find all of our ultimate beginner quilt series videos in our playlist here - bit.ly/fqsquilt
Share your progress on Instagram or Facebook with #ultimatebeginnerquilt and #myfirstquilt, or comment on our blog or video with your quilting questions and we’ll help you out.
▸ Learn more and sew along with us! - blog.fatquartershop.com/begin...
SUPPLIES
▸ Moda Fabrics - www.fatquartershop.com/moda-f...
▸ EverSewn Sewing Machines - www.fatquartershop.com/everse...
▸ The Ultimate Beginner Quilt Kit by Fat Quarter Shop - www.fatquartershop.com/ultima...
▸ Shop all the quilting notions - www.fatquartershop.com/quilti...
Painter’s Tape
▸ Olfa 45mm Deluxe Rotary cutter - www.fatquartershop.com/olfa-d...
▸ Rotary Cutters and Blades at Fat Quarter Shop - www.fatquartershop.com/olfa-r...
▸Olfa 24” x 36” Cutting Mat - www.fatquartershop.com/cuttin...
▸ More Cutting Mats at Fat Quarter Shop - www.fatquartershop.com/quilti...
▸ Limited Edition 8” Fabric Shears by Tula Pink -
www.fatquartershop.com/limite...
▸ Oliso Yellow Auto-lift Iron - www.fatquartershop.com/yellow...
▸ Creative Grids 6.5” x 24.5” Quilting Ruler - www.fatquartershop.com/creati...
▸ Creative Grids Fat Quarter Shop 2.5” x 6.5” Ruler -
www.fatquartershop.com/fat-qu...
▸ Alphabitties - www.fatquartershop.com/nsearc...
▸ Aurifil 50 wt Thread #2024-SMALL - www.fatquartershop.com/aurifi...
▸ Magnetic Pincushion - bit.ly/2RFRj0a
▸ Little House Glass Head Pins with Tin - www.fatquartershop.com/little...
MORE INFO
▸ Blog: blog.fatquartershop.com/
▸ Facebook: / fatquartershop
▸ Instagram: / fatquartershop
▸ Pinterest: / fatquartershop
▸ KZbin Membership: kzbin.info...
ON SET
▸ Red Rain Boots Handmade Quilt Blocks - www.redrainbootshandmade.com/
▸ Items seen on set - docs.google.com/document/d/1y...
▸ To read more about our use of affiliate links, click here: blog.fatquartershop.com/affil...

[@grandmastraw]

Great video! I will be referring to all these videos for a long time. Thank you!

[@malcolmbentlee9475]

i guess it's kind of off topic but does anybody know of a good place to stream new tv shows online?

[@gordonachilles4216]

@Malcolm Bentlee lately I have been using flixzone. You can find it on google :)

[@kaleldarian8406]

@Gordon Achilles Definitely, been using Flixzone for years myself =)

[@malcolmbentlee9475]

@Gordon Achilles Thank you, I signed up and it seems to work :D Appreciate it !!

[@gordonachilles4216]

@Malcolm Bentlee glad I could help =)

[@BAMom780]

I watch this video EVERY TIME I have to prepare a backing. This method makes it so easy so THANK YOU!

[@Sewmena918]

The backing was much easier than I thought it would be. Kimberly and team, hank you so much for this series!

[@jenelks1495]

So glad this step was covered in this series! First time I have seen a tutorial on how to piece the backing. Thanks so much!

[@katysacher8293]

This was a fabulous 'class' on piecing the back of a quilt. I have not quilted in years and I have learned so much . These techniques make it so much easier to get this sometimes daunting task done. Thank you so much!

[@lupehawk5930]

Great tip on the ironing! I’m sure this will make the backing so much flatter. Thanks!

[@paml2642]

I didn’t know about the half inch seam either. This video was really helpful to me as I always struggle with piecing the backing. Everything makes sense! I use 108” just to make it easy but there are times when I want to use 42” wide fabric. Thank you thank you for this series😊. You did a wonderful job showing, explaining and teaching!

[@kayhelton3007]

This series of putting a quilt together, backing…to binding, are the most helpful to me…I missed the basics of quilting class due to surgery…good job, Thanks for your help❤️🙏🥰

[@lauraruthruff4741]

I know this is an older video and recently discovered this series. I had to write and thank you for doing this series. I've made about 6 quilts and struggled with piecing the backing. My latest quilt is for my granddaughter due in October. I made Lori Holt's name quilt from her Spelling Bee book. After watching this tutorial I'm happy to say I have a fabulous backing for my quilt. I will be following Gina's tips for machine quilting. Thank you so much to everyone at FQS!! ♥️

[@sandyfrance1261]

I appreciate your tutorial. Loved the way you grabbed the 2 inside edges of selvage on the 2 lengths of fabric and put them together....this did change the way it was put on the bolt though, however, my fabric did go back together nicely.

[@sadiejosiemom]

This was so helpful! I've always struggled and this really is simple and makes a lot of sense. I'm not good with math.

[@lupehawk5930]

Great tip on the ironing! I’m sure this will make the backing so much flatter. Thanks!o

[@wendyoconnor8727]

This was very helpful. I just received my backing from your shop to go on my Spellbound quilt. This vided is great!

[@sharonw667]

This was quite helpful and provided me with excellent instructions. Many thanks.

[@kkbushman7818]

Awesome video. I am an intermediate quilter. Great tips.

[@doragibson59]

Thank you, Kimberly 💕

[@cindiep2580]

Great tip to save ironing til AFTER sewn together!

[@tuustotus9635]

This video was so extremely helpful! I just successfully pieced my first backing. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with others. Why was I so scared? lol

[@ingridhunt7841]

Lord! I've been wrestling with all that fabric at the sewing machine when I could've pinned with it all folded and manageable!!??

[@greerhelmsing1591]

This is such a good tutorial.

[@kellykagoshima6963]

it was hard for me to figure out what you were doing since the right and wrong sides are not easily seen. I think I will have to watch several more times to "get" it.

[@diannekorber9425]

I felt the same way!

[@tinaelm8017]

This was SOOOOO confusing, I have no idea how to fold and what it should look like. I need another video to help me understand.

[@joycerebore525]

I am also confused; after you cut backing into 2 60.5 pieces how do you fold? If keeping selvages together wouldn’t there be 4 selvage ends not 2.? Help please.

[@patpalmer1337]

I pre-wash, so I make it a little more complicated for myself....I'm wondering how she squares off the top and bottom edges? You would want to have that center seam running straight and if you have an insert, you wouldn't want that wonky. I'm learning some things, I was taught you should do two seams in the backing unless it's a small quilt, but I'm seeing that most don't think that's necessary. I'm glad for that, I won't worry about it so much!

[@ameliaaltman1953]

Thank you!

[@memefraser3961]

Thank you, been quilting for years but never knew how to join the backing. Always bought 108” wide backing. Must try this. I’m a little confused on the folding so I’m going to have to watch a couple more times. Did I miss the video on joining the blocks. 🧵🧵🇨🇦

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Thank you! Please check out the previous video on Sashing and Borders kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3jal5mfma2VjbM and check out this blog post for a little more info on the folding. blog.fatquartershop.com/the-ultimate-beginner-quilt-finishing/

[@marietteforget7804]

Thanks a lot! 🌸🌺

[@debbiekeener7375]

My preference is to put the seam anywhere but the center of the quilt back. This helps avoid placing stress on the seam, e.g. when folding.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

That's a good idea!

[@leemiller2811]

EXCELLENT!!!!

[@ginnywhite-linn9565]

Struggled with this module. First one I could not follow well. I might have benefited from knowing where all the selvages were the entire time Kim was folding and cutting. But have my backing cut and sewn and am looking forward to putting the sandwich together.

[@denisespies1757]

Me too. I’m confused

[@taraweeks8758]

Very confused!

[@deniseguidry3763]

How do you do your backing when you do your beautiful pieced backings?

[@patschmitt6222]

Did you leave the salvage edge in your backing seam? I thought you had to cut that off.

[@Athens416]

So, is the seam on the selvedge side? Isn't that being sewn vertically? I am confused.

[@kandaykerr3653]

Was there a video for putting on the sashing and putting them together? Was it on the pattern sheet? Thanks Kimberly for this information, my backing is usually uneven and now I know why!

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Yes! Here you go Sashing and borders kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3jal5mfma2VjbM

[@mrs.coombs7210]

This is a great video. I refer to it frequently. Do you have a tutorial for piecing a backing with directional fabric? 😊

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Mrs.Combs! We do not have a tutorial for a pieced backing with directional fabric.

[@clairelouiseparker6610]

Encouraging

[@jessielove1136]

I'm a super beginner quilter but this was so confusing to me. I had a hard time understanding when to take selvages of the same fabric but folded (like it comes off the bolt) or when to put the two pieces together and line them up with their single selvage edge. I had to watch it a bunch of times

[@meganlarson4337]

I have the same confusion and watched it a bunch of times too. What did you end up doing?

[@marilynstanton3858]

Missed a better explanation at the beginning of what she was going to desk and WHY!!

[@Catsfancy]

I was confused about the right sides together. I mean I understand that right sides need to be together to sew but my fabric came off the bolt with the right sides facing out, don’t you have to open up the fabric (not keep it together) in order to put the right sides together? She was using a solid and there was no right or wrong side but I’m using a print.

[@jules30040]

Hi Kimberly on the backing the seam that you sewed is it going to be a horizontal or vertical seam when done.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Jules! The Ultimate Beginner Quilt is square, so it doesn't matter if the seam is horizontal or vertical. We usually prefer horizontal seams, but in some cases vertical seams use less fabric.

[@pammeulemans2428]

Is your seam on the back, horizontal or vertical across the quilt, back after you join the two pieces?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Pam! It can be either as long as you have enough fabric.

[@chrishorton1793]

I did not get how you arrived at how much touch to cut off. Confusing. If it’s 80” why would you not cut off 20 to get your 6”0”?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Chris! It’s standard to specify that the quilt back measures 4” larger than your quilt top on all sides which allows for enough space to clamp the quilt to the machine and quilt it without getting in the way of the edges. Here's a blog post that explains more blog.fatquartershop.com/5-tips-your-longarm-quilter-wants-you-to-know/

[@emilydinicolantonio7342]

I'm already getting sad that this series is coming to an end in a couple weeks. Are there other *beginner* level quilt alongs on this channel that I could look up for quilt #2? :)

[@marcomama1]

Great video, learned a few things. What is the pattern name and is there a kit?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

It's the Ultimate Beginner Quilt! You can find all the patterns and information here blog.fatquartershop.com/beginner-quilt-sew-along/ :-)

[@terrilane2140]

If you are not going to have it quilted on a long arm how large would you cut the backing?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

If you're going to quilt it yourself, a 2-3" margin on all sides is adequate.

[@conniecruz880]

Hi, can I put two of these quilt sets together to make one bigger quilt? Any tips for that? ❤

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Connie Yes, you could do that. We do not have any tips for resizing the quilt.

[@meganlarson4337]

I’m a little confused on whether you have one piece of fabric or two. If I have two 44” fabrics, will I need to put them together?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Megan! She starts with 3 3/8 yards (121.5" x 40") and needs to cut them into two pieces (~60" x 40") in order to be able to sew them into a square backing.

[@mw54470]

That's why I'm not very happy with my Oliso! It leeks water onto the quilt! Other irons I've used never did that!

[@sylviavillalobos9779]

I just use spray bottles. I don't trust any iron.

[@barbaralevel7225]

My Oliso blue one has never leaked. I had read it was the only one that didn't leak and they were right--had it for a long time

[@veevee111]

I've had cheap irons leak onto my fabric so I was surprised to see this expensive iron do the same.

[@christalkelly7929]

After watching the video several times, I cut the back fabric, only to be left with one half that looks great and two other pieces, so I folded it wrong. Any way to sew the two other pieces, so I have two half pieces or do I need buy more backing fabric and try again. I'm a complete newbie and am spatially challenged.

[@Cathy_MidwestHome_Hens]

Channel liked your comment but gave no answers 🙄 I’m confused too so off I go to find a better video - hopefully

[@kellycopa301]

So there is no need to wash the backing fabric? Do you worry about shrinking?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Kelly! Pre-washing your fabric is not required and once it is quilted it will not shrink.

[@katrinalantz1596]

Did we get directions on how to put blocks together?

[@annerankin1191]

It is in the “finishing your quilt top” video.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Sorry about that! We've now called it out more clearly in the description box above. Sashing and borders kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3jal5mfma2VjbM

[@kathyfowler4526]

Is there a pattern for this quilt?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Kathy! We have the patterns available here: www.fatquartershop.com/nsearch/?q=ultimate+beginner+series

[@oxnyxws]

I think this would have been better with a print so that we could see the right and wrong side and if you had laid out the folds. Nice black magic though 😜

[@greerhelmsing1591]

So, starch or not starch the backing???

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Greer! Kimberly starches all of her fabric.

[@xg__garbled]

ok i think i'm a bit slow when it comes to understanding how to do the backing. i didn't quite catch what kimberly was doing with the fabric when she made the initial cut for the backing. it looked like she was refolding it a bit and then she made her initial cut. what did i miss? and then after the initial cut, how is she refolding it in order to then pin and piece it together? i don't understand and i really want to understand, because whatever she is doing seems so much easier than i've been doing it. suprisingly, for me, figuring out how to cut and piece the backing has probably been harder than learning how to piece blocks. and that's just using 1 fabric piece for the backing nevermind trying to do pieced backings with multiple fabrics (which looks super cute). help please 😰

[@patpalmer1337]

Her very first cut was to cut the fabric into two pieces..she folded it and then cut it at the folded edge.

[@sylviavillalobos9779]

Kimberly cut her 3 3/8 yardage of fabric in half. Then she aligned the salvages together, and ironed them. The 2 panels are refolded, aligned to the salvage. She starts pinning the opposite end of the fabric, parallel to salvage end. I hope this helped you

[@xg__garbled]

@@sylviavillalobos9779 thank you for trying to help. i like your explaination. i think i understand what she's doing. i'm just not sure i understand how she's doing it. i like that she's able to handle all that fabric without completely unfolding everything which is what i've done in the past and it all gets very unruly. i'm going to keep trying though. hopefully things will eventually make sense.☺️

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

@@xg__garbled Yes, like Sylvia explained, after she cut the 3 3/8 yardage in half, she grabbed a selvage edge from the top piece and bottom piece and pinned those two together to form the center seam. It's a different way than some of us are used to but it saves some fabric wrestling.

[@janicebest-nesbitt6455]

Xg garbled I’m in the same boat with you. I am a new quilter i know nothing about backing and I still have not grasped the whole cutting and piecing the back of my quilt. Kimberly is a good teacher and I’ll have to watch this several times to get the whole process because I am a slow learner.

[@stephanievermillion3908]

Uh oh. I thought I saw you starch your backing before. I starched then pressed, then trimmed. 😆

[@Victoria_VO]

Knowing that you starch everything, I starched my backing. 😱

[@micheleforsyth70]

You went too fast for beginners. I can't figure out what sides you put together.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Michele! Since Kimberly is using a solid there is not a wrong side 2:49 If you are using a fabric that has a pattern for the backing you would put them where the patterns touch

[@Pip7-px3wq]

Would have been a lot better if she had a print fabric for a ‘learn how to quilt’ tutorial, also talk a cutting horizontally etc Not enough detail, and always talking about long arm instead of home quilters first. Yes, very confusing, shouldn’t have to watch over and over to get it…

[@Cathy_MidwestHome_Hens]

Am I the only one here that’s confused? 😕

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Is there a specific part that is confusing you?

[@wickedcolor5231]

You could have saved a lot of time and effort by cutting off the access first before you started ironing. You could have saved your viewers a lot of time by speeding through the ironing part. 🤦🏻‍♀️