Preparing my backing for Bordertown B’s

 It’s time to get my backing sorted. My quilt measures 96” * 112”. Yes, it’s a biggin’.

As you know we need to make it a bit larger for the longarmer. Now the fun begins.

The wide back I bought is only 108” wide which seemed ok but only 98” long. I knew I had to lengthen it by at least 22”. I was also advised to wash it first as sometimes they shrink. I have never washed my fabrics first. A new experience for me. Having to wash, dry and then iron this one fabric. Thanks Judy, it’s washed and ironed. PROBLEM.it shrunk. It now only measures 100” wide so definitely not big enough. Mmmmmmm.

Okay, get out all my scraps from the quilt top and join them together. 

But first I have to lay out the backing on the floor. I move my furniture to give me room and my living/ dining room become my workspace. First cut done and a strip sewn in.

2nd cut done.

Oh this was scary.

Next, layout my leftovers on the floor in my hallway/sewing room

I worked out which sections I could sew together and I moved them onto the sewing table

They went back together a little different to what was planned. But I got there.

Here it is big enough for my quilt top. 

Not to go and join the batting to get it to fit.

I used the iron on batting joiner but stitched it as well. Sorry no photos of that.

Okay. My back went out doing this and the next day I had trouble walking. It popped back in but took about 5 days for the pain to ease. Please remind me in future that I am not to make a quilt bigger than the width of a wide back or the wadding . I am not joking them to get a bigger size. It wa stop much hard and painful work. Although I will love my quilt when it is finished…

Now to deliver them to Judy for quilting. Thank you 💕