Utah Fabric Stores

Utah

Where to buy wide-back fabric in Utah

Wide-back fabric lets many bed quilts use one continuous backing instead of two or three pieces joined by seams. These Utah shops have specifically documented 108-inch or other wide quilt backing — not merely ordinary 44-inch quilting cotton. Inventory and continuous yardage change quickly, so check with the shop before making a long drive.

8 shops across Box Elder, Garfield, Grand, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Utah and Washington counties.

What wide-back fabric means

Most quilting cotton is sold on 44- or 45-inch bolts and has about 42 inches of usable width after the selvages are removed. Wide-back cotton is commonly sold as 108 inches wide, with roughly 106 usable inches. Some backing fabrics are narrower or wider, so use the width printed on the bolt rather than assuming every wideback is identical.

A wideback is most useful when its usable width covers the quilt top plus the extra fabric needed on both sides. It removes backing seams, reduces cutting and pressing, and can cost less overall even when its price per yard is higher. Use the wide backing versus standard fabric guide to compare yardage, total price, print direction, and the cases in which 108-inch fabric still needs a seam.

How much 108-inch backing to buy

Measure the finished quilt top, then add the allowance required by the person quilting it. Four extra inches on every side is common for longarm quilting, but the quilter's own requirement should control. A 60-by-80-inch top with four inches added to every side needs a 68-by-88-inch backing, which usually means 2.5 yards of 108-inch fabric.

Use the quilt backing calculator for your exact dimensions. It compares wide backing with both possible seam directions for standard-width fabric, includes seam allowances, and rounds the result to a practical cutting increment.

Before driving to a shop

Wideback selection is smaller than ordinary quilting cotton, and the amount remaining on a bolt matters. Call or check current online inventory when color, print, or one continuous cut is essential.

  • Confirm the labeled and usable fabric width.
  • Ask whether enough continuous yardage remains on one bolt.
  • Check whether the fabric is quilting cotton, flannel, minky, or another material.
  • Bring a top, block, or swatch when matching colors in person.
  • Ask your longarm quilter about washing, squaring, and required overage before cutting.

Wide-back fabric questions

Is 108-inch fabric wide enough for a queen-size quilt?

Often, but not always. Add the quilting allowance to the actual quilt-top dimensions and compare that number with the fabric's usable width, which may be closer to 106 inches after the selvages are removed.

Does wide-back fabric need to be pieced?

Not when one fabric dimension covers the quilt plus the required overage. Oversize quilts may still require a seam, and a directional print can affect which way the fabric can be turned.

Should wide-back fabric be prewashed?

Ask the longarm quilter and follow the fabric maker's care instructions. The quilt top and backing should be treated consistently because uneven shrinkage can change the finished quilt.

Worth asking: Bring the quilt-top dimensions plus the extra backing required by your longarm quilter. Ask the shop to confirm the usable width, fiber content, and whether it can cut the full length you need from one bolt.

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