The sizes below are the average sizes of finished quilt tops but they can vary.  Always measure your finished quilt top first. If you want to buy the backing while buying the fabric for your top. I do suggest getting at the least a 1/2 of a yard more then what your pattern will call for when pre-buying the fabric before finishing the quilt.

Always keep in mind that you should add at least 3″ on all sides of the backing because as you quilt your top the backing will shrink with your quilting.

Another tip to keep in mind is if you are using a long arm quilter to do your quilt and not quilting the top yourself always ask them how many inches around the backing they prefer. Most prefer at least 4″  of extra fabric all around the quilt. Example: finished quilt top is 40″ x 60″ then you would want your backing to be 48″ x 68″.

Here is the chart we used at our shop and it worked out very well. This chart is based on 44/45″ fabrics and piecing them by the length(I will give the horizontal piecing too)

Crib average is 36″ x 45″ and yardage  for vertical  piecing is  1 3/4 yards by the length, and I do not recommend horizontal piecing. You would want finished backing to be 44″ x 54″

Twin average is 68″ x 86″ and yardage  for vertical piecing 5 1/8 yards with the pieces cut in two 2 yard 20.5 inch lengths(if you like your seem down the middle). Piecing the twin horizontally you would need 4 1/4 yards with two pieces being cut at 2 1/8 yard lengths. You would want finished backing to be around 76′ x 94″.

Full size(Double) average is 80″ x 88″ and yardage  for verticle  piecing is 5 1/3  yards with 2 pieces being cut in 2 2/3 yard increments. Horizontal would be 7.5 yards with three pieces cut in 2.5 yard increments. Piecing horizontal there will be a lot of waste so I only suggest doing it if you are using the backing in the quilt top and can use the extra fabric. Finished backing size should be 88″ x  96″

Queen size average is 86″ x 93″  and yardage for verticle piecing would be 8 yards 15″(I just would get 8 1/2 yards) You would need three pieces cut at 2 yards 29″. For horizontal you would need 7 7/8 yards with three pieces being cut in 2 yard 22″ pieces. You would want finished backing to be 94″ x 101″

King Size average is 104″ x 96″ and yardage for verticle piecing would be  8 yards 24″ with three pieces being cut in 2 yard 32″ lengths. Horizontal piecing you would need 9 yards 12″ with three pieces being cut in 3 yard 4″ pieces. You would want finished backing to be 112″ x 104″

Hope you find this guide helpful!

Happy Quilting,

Jen

Quilt Top Kit Pine Trees & Houses Fabrics with Backing US $35.00 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 19:06:53 PDT   | Watch this Item

Quilt Backing Special 7 yard Floral 100% Cotton Fabric US $44.00 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 12:50:35 PDT   | Watch this Item

Quilt Backing Special 7 yard Floral 100% Cotton Fabric US $44.00 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 12:54:53 PDT   | Watch this Item

MODA QUILT BACKING FABRIC 108 INCH WIDE 2+ Yard Piece US $26.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 18:47:48 PDT   | Watch this Item

90" Wide Quilt Backing Fabric Solid Beige US $6.95 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 6:50:27 PDT   | Watch this Item

I thought it would be fun to share some Quilting Tips I have discovered throughout the years, so every time I can think of some good ones I am going to share them on this site. Please feel free to add any of your under comments.

Quilting Tips

1. Before starting a your project pick your thread color for piecing and have at least 5 pre-wound bobbins. Nothing is more aggravating then adding thread to a bobbin while you are piecing! I actually buy the prewound bobbins for my machine.

2. When piecing and the seam ripper must come out- keep a lint brush or duck tape near buy and after ripping your seam out run it over the block pieces and you will be lint free!

Happy Quilting,

Jen

Madeira 144 Poly Sided Pre-Wound Bobbins - BLACK sz L US $29.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 10:10:52 PDT   | Watch this Item

Pre-Wound Intrinsic 3 cord Emb. Bobbins "L" - Seal US $2.00 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 12:47:57 PDT   | Watch this Item

Pre-wound Embroidery Bobbins "L" Wavecrest Tex 35 Nylon US $2.00 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 13:16:30 PDT   | Watch this Item

144 Pre Wound Paper Bobbins 100% Polyester Thread. Ecru US $15.42 Auction Ends: Wednesday Sep-08-2010 4:27:02 PDT   | Watch this Item

2500 Pre wound Bobbins for sewing White prewound sew US $25.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Sep-08-2010 8:37:18 PDT   | Watch this Item

Michael Miller Fabrics,
Moda Fabrics, Alexander Henry, Timeless Treasures, FreeSpirit, Fabri-Quilt,
Robert Kaufman, Blank Textiles, Quilting Treasures,Fabric Traditions, Andover Fabrics,Makower UK,Clothworks,Westminster, Amy Butler Fabrics, Red Rooster Fabrics, Marcus Brothers, Batik Textiles, Henry Glass, South Sea Imports, David Textiles, Wilmington Prints, Cranston, Classic Cottons
Well here is just a few! These are all great sites, most of them offer free patterns and you can get some insight on what the new lines are that are coming out!

I will update this post as I think of more.

MICHAEL MILLER "FLOWER SHOWER Espresso fabric by yard US $8.99 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:13:50 PDT   | Watch this Item

MICHAEL MILLER "PARTY ANIMAL" Black fabric by yard US $8.99 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:20:58 PDT   | Watch this Item

MICHAEL MILLER "DUMB DOT" Black fabric by yard US $8.45 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:25:27 PDT   | Watch this Item

1 Fat Quarter Martini Michael Miller Quilt Shop Fabric US $0.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:27:48 PDT   | Watch this Item

FQ ORANGE Fabric VAMPIRE BAT FROG FAIRY Michael Miller US $2.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:34:44 PDT   | Watch this Item

Michael Miller glamour girls quilt fabric retired 1 yd. US $3.49 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:43:42 PDT   | Watch this Item

Secret Garden Poppies Fabric from Michael Miller NEW! US $4.15 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 19:19:28 PDT   | Watch this Item

DICK AND JANE~FABRIC PANEL~MICHAEL MILLER~BLUE~CHILDREN US $7.99 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 19:43:37 PDT   | Watch this Item

Michael Miller Meadowsweet Poppy Parade Brown Fabric US $8.08 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 19:59:56 PDT   | Watch this Item

Michael Miller Meadow Dot Citrus Fabric by the yard US $8.08 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 20:04:35 PDT   | Watch this Item

Well, after being a shop owner for awhile and never having a complaint on my fabric picking- I realized…when it is our own project we tend to be harder on ourselves. When we are helping others we let our creativity flow. Not sure why or how this happens but it does.

So here is what I started doing a couple of years ago.. First I bought the Eelectric Quilt software, it is truly priceless for the quilters that are personally colored blind to their own projects. Then I magically found out you can put red with any combo in your mind. For quilting or clothing, you just got to have one uniform pattern, All of the colors you pick must be put in your quilt blocks or clothing item uniformly….Really thats it. I am currently working on a no color sense quilt….It is Ocean Blue, Deep Red, and String Bean Green…these are colors I am putting into our living space, our great room to be exact…. the color combo I found from a magazine. Colors I would have never put together but using them uniformly our great room is looking like a show off of HGTV. All colors do go well, you just have to look at magazines, TV commercials(we are lucky here to have a ton of furniture adds on TV here where I live) but if I see a color combo I like…I immediately write it down in a fabric idea journal I keep close by.

Then when I have time I just add it to Electric Quilt…and it always works out!

Get wild with your colors!! I promise you will not be sorry…colors control our moods and our creativity. Take off the color handcuffs and let yourself go, you will love getting wild!

Happy Quilt Coloring!

SPIRIT-MODA Charm Pack 42 5" Quilt Fabric Squares Kit US $6.49 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:11:24 PDT   | Watch this Item

RJR Shasta Charm Pack 21 5" Quilt Cotton Fabric Squares US $0.01 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:18:25 PDT   | Watch this Item

Berringer FANCY HILL FARM 5" Charm Pack Fabric Squares US $1.76 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:20:59 PDT   | Watch this Item

6 Asst CHRISTMAS Moda Charm Packs Quilt Fabric Squares US $39.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:24:17 PDT   | Watch this Item

Moda Charm Pack - WOODLAND HOLIDAY 5" Christmas Fabric US $6.88 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:25:35 PDT   | Watch this Item

3 Moda Bliss Charm Packs - 126 5" Quilt Fabric Squares US $19.95 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:34:27 PDT   | Watch this Item

Moda Charm Pack - ADORING - 42 Christmas Fabric Squares US $4.00 (6 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:43:33 PDT   | Watch this Item

3 Moda BLUSH Charm Pack 120 5" Quilt Fabric Squares Kit US $21.99 Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:53:42 PDT   | Watch this Item

5" CITY BLOOMS GRAPHITE QUILT FABRIC SQUARES CHARM PACK US $3.84 (4 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:54:40 PDT   | Watch this Item

Moda AWESOME 5" Charm Pack Fabric Squares Kit US $3.83 (5 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 19:00:09 PDT   | Watch this Item

If you have never even sewn on a machine in your life believe it or not quilting can be accomplished easily. No home-ec skills needed! Quilting to me is just so soothing. I can be stressed beyond belief and sit in front of my cutting table and machine and for whatever reason get lost in my fabric or project.

You really must have a good foundation and the correct supplies. In our quilt shop we offered a beginners quilting class that lasted six weeks and we had our students purchase the Start Quilting with Alex Anderson book. This is a wonderful book, she walks you through everything step by step. From choosing colors to buying the correct supplies. The sampler quilt project in the book is perfect for beginners. Teaches some nice basic blocks with step by step instructions.

I would recommend starting with this book if you do not have a quilt shop near you or if you like learning at your own pace by yourself. It is a very easy simple to follow method.

If you like learning with hands on guidance- Yank out the phone book and look up your nearest quilt shop. Most quilt shops have running classes for beginnersand better yet most quilt shop owners if they do not have a class running aty the time will work with you one on one. I used to love to work one on one with my customers!

Either way whether learning by yourself or at a quilt shop, once you make the commitment you need to find a decent sewing machine with a 1/4 inch quilting foot. Learn your machine before you start any class. Practice on scrap fabric, old clothing anything. Learn to thread the bobbin, learn how to sew a straight line, and just get comfortable with your machine. This will make your experience with your first class or project so much easier.

Happy Quilting,

Jen

Start Quilting with Alex Anderson Projects Quilt Sew US $9.13 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 0:11:52 PDT   | Watch this Item

Nine-Patch Variation Quilt Pattern by Alex Anderson US $0.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 10:23:43 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Alexandra Quilt Fabric 164X US $8.40 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:00:40 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Alexandra Quilt Fabric 166R US $8.40 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:01:16 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Alexandra Quilt Fabric 166X US $8.40 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:01:24 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Alison Quilt Fabric 007R US $8.40 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:07:30 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Alison Quilt Fabric 007R FQ US $2.10 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:07:34 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Alison Quilt Fabric 007X US $8.40 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:07:37 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Alison Quilt Fabric 007X FQ US $2.10 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:07:41 PDT   | Watch this Item

Quilts for Fabric Lovers by Alex Anderson (1994, Pap... US $2.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 16:59:06 PDT   | Watch this Item

Beautifully Quilted with Alex Anderson: How to Choose o US $6.95 Auction Ends: Monday Sep-06-2010 23:21:13 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson Keep quilting US $3.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 6:26:30 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson's Hand & Machine Applique US $18.77 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 8:01:03 PDT   | Watch this Item

Paper Piecing with Alex Anderson: Tips Techniques 6 Pro US $17.36 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 9:54:24 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson's Baby Quilts with Love: 12 Timeless Proj US $35.65 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 9:55:04 PDT   | Watch this Item

Start Quilting With Alex Anderson 3rd Edition US $14.77 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 10:34:47 PDT   | Watch this Item

COCKEYED MAYOR OF KAUNAKAKAI, (R. Alex Anderson) US $9.90 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 17:29:42 PDT   | Watch this Item

C&T Publishing Kids Start Quilting With Alex Anderson US $10.94 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 19:31:22 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson- Hand and Machine Applique Book US $12.00 Auction Ends: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 21:44:58 PDT   | Watch this Item

Alex Anderson's Hand & Machine Applique by Alex Ande... US $10.22 Auction Ends: Wednesday Sep-08-2010 13:21:29 PDT   | Watch this Item