How to back a quilt with fleece?

Backing a quilt with fleece is a popular choice for its softness, warmth, and often, the elimination of batting. This method streamlines the quilting process while creating a cozy finish.

How to Back a Quilt with Fleece?

Backing a quilt with fleece involves a straightforward process of preparing your layers, basting them securely, and then stitching them together using your sewing machine. Using fleece can simplify your quilting project as it often replaces the need for traditional batting, adding a soft, cuddly feel to your finished quilt.

Preparing Your Fleece Backing

Before you begin, ensure your fleece is ready for use.

• Pre-washing (Optional but Recommended): While many quilters don't pre-wash fleece, it can help prevent potential shrinking and color bleeding, especially with darker colors. If you pre-wash, wash on a gentle cycle with cold water and tumble dry on low or air dry to maintain its texture.
• Sizing: Your fleece backing should be at least 4-6 inches larger than your quilt top on all sides. This extra margin provides ample room for layering, basting, and any shifting during the quilting process.
• Type of Fleece: Anti-pill fleece or blizzard fleece are excellent choices as they are durable, soft, and resist pilling. Avoid very stretchy or thin fleece, which can be challenging to work with.

Layering Your Quilt

Proper layering is crucial for a smooth, wrinkle-free finish.

1. Prepare Your Surface: Lay your fleece backing out smoothly on a large, flat surface, such as a clean floor, a large table, or design wall. Ensure there are no wrinkles or creases in the fleece.
2. Position the Quilt Top: Lay the quilt top right side up on top of the fleece. Carefully center the quilt top on the fleece backing, ensuring you have even margins around all sides.
3. Smooth Away Wrinkles: Smooth away any wrinkles from the center outwards, both on the quilt top and the fleece layer underneath. This step is critical to prevent puckering during quilting. You can use your hands, a brayer, or even a ruler to help smooth.

Basting the Layers

Basting is the process of temporarily holding the quilt layers together before quilting.

• Baste with your favorite method. For fleece-backed quilts, spray basting is highly effective as it adheres the two layers directly, minimizing shifting. Pin basting is also a viable option, using plenty of safety pins placed every 3-4 inches.
  • Spray Basting: Apply a temporary fabric adhesive evenly across the fleece, then carefully lay the quilt top on top, smoothing as you go.
  • Pin Basting: Use curved safety pins, starting from the center and working your way out, placing pins frequently to secure the layers.
  • Thread Basting: For smaller quilts or if you prefer hand-basting, use long running stitches to secure the layers, but this is less common with fleece.

Quilting and Stitching

When it's time to stitch, specific techniques will help you achieve the best results with fleece.

1. Machine Setup: Use a walking foot on your sewing machine. This attachment helps both layers feed evenly through the machine, preventing stretching and puckering, especially important with fleece. Adjust your stitch length slightly longer (e.g., 3.0-3.5mm) than normal for quilting.
2. Positioning for Sewing: Sew with the fleece side down, against your sewing machine's feed dogs. The feed dogs are designed to grip and move fabric, and the fleece's texture will benefit from direct contact, preventing it from stretching or being pushed unevenly.
3. Stitching Method: Stitch in the ditch to secure the quilt layers together, working from the center out. Stitching in the ditch means sewing directly into the seam lines of your quilt top. This technique helps to hide your quilting stitches and effectively anchors the fleece to the quilt top.
   • Working from the Center Out: Always begin your quilting in the middle of the quilt and work outwards. This helps to push any excess fabric or fullness towards the edges, preventing trapped pleats or puckers in the middle.
   • Quilting Designs: Simple quilting designs work best with fleece. Straight lines, grids, or gentle curves are ideal as they don't require overly dense stitching, which can compress the fleece too much.

Finishing Touches

Once your quilting is complete, trim the excess fleece backing even with your quilt top. You can then proceed with your preferred binding method to finish the edges of your quilt.

Pros and Cons of Fleece Quilt Backing

Using fleece for your quilt backing is an excellent way to create a soft, warm, and comfortable quilt with a simplified construction process.