If you're looking for an affordable, quick option for backing your quilt, allow me to suggest using a blanket!
I like to use the super plush Berkshire Life blankets from Costco. They are so soft, so fluffy, and add the best loft to my quilts! They come in queen and king size and are way cheaper than buying 4+ yards of fabric for your backing. These particular ones go on sale often. I got my queen size for $15. That's a steal for a quilt back!
Another bonus is that you don't have to do any piecing with these, meaning you can jump right in and start basting! I would say that the only down side is that there aren't very many color options, though I'm sure there are other great brands out there with more!
A few tips for using a blanket like this for your quilt:
- Keep the edges intact, if you can. These blankets shed like crazy once you cut into them. If your quilt top is large enough that you don't have to trim the blanket down, then great! If your quilt is much smaller thank the blanket, like mine was, then line it up with the corner of the blanket so you only have to trim two sides.
- Keep a vacuum and lint roller handy. Seriously, the fuzz shedding is not a joke. As soon as you start cutting, it's going to be everywhere. Especially if you have kids running through the area tracking it all over the house. 😂 Vacuuming after each step of the process will help keep that fuzz under control.
- Make sure your basting is super secure. I don't find that this material stretches too much, but it can slide around a little. Lay your blanket down and tape it to the floor, pulling the edges taut, but not overstretching them to the point of distortion. I always pin baste, and I pinned about every 3-4 inches. I didn't have any issues with puckering or sliding while quilting. (I don't use spray baste, so I haven't tried it. I would think that it wouldn't stick as well, but if you have tried it, please let me know how it worked for you!)
- Go slowly when quilting! Even though the blanket is thick and plush, I still opted to use batting in the middle. You could probably get away with skipping it, but I just love the way it feels. This results in a very thick quilt sandwich, which I could just slide under my presser foot. Once under, the walking foot took charge and glided through without any issues. The thickness did force me to slow down and smell the roses, though. It was also a bit heavier, so again, slowing down helped me to keep control and alleviate the weight from sagging the quilt down.
- Try a wider binding. I have finished a blanket-backed quilt with the typical 2.5" binding before without any problems. However, I tried a 2.75" binding this time and I would recommend it! The extra width allowed for a small increase of seam allowance to ensure that all the edges and fluff were securely bound. I think even a 3" binding would be good, and I plan to try that next time.
- Don't be afraid to give it a go! If this looks fun to you, I encourage you to try it out! It makes for a super duper cozy quilt that is sure to be the house favorite!
If you back your quilt with a blanket, tag me on Instagram @a_stitch_is_a_stitch . I'd love to see what you made! Comment below with any questions or other tips you might have!