How to Piece a Backing with Hidden Seam

How to Make a Backing with a Hidden Seam

After all the hard work of piecing a beautiful quilt top, you wouldn’t want to just slap the backing together without putting care into how it looks. A well-matched seam in your quilt backing can give your project a polished and professional finish. By following these simple steps, you can seamlessly (pun intended!) match fabric prints when sewing two or more pieces together for the backing.

Steps to Create a Hidden Seam in Your Quilt Backing

1. Understand Fabric Selvages
   There are two different types of selvages on fabric: one with printed dots or color information and one with a tighter, woven edge. When using two fabric cuts for your backing, use one type of selvage on one fabric piece and the other type on the second fabric piece.

2. Find the Best Spot to Match the Pattern
   Identify a section in the fabric’s repeating pattern that will be easy for you to align. A symmetrical or distinct element in the print works best.

3. Prepare the Fabric for Alignment
   Take one piece of fabric and fold under a few inches with Wrong Sides Together (WST). Press this fold with an iron to create a crisp edge.

4. Use a Glue Stick to Secure the Match
   Lay the folded fabric on top of the other fabric, carefully aligning the repeating pattern. Use a glue stick and apply about six inches of glue along the folded edge.

5. Iron to Set the Glue
   Gently press with an iron to set the glue in place, ensuring that the patterns remain aligned. Continue to repeat steps 4 and 5 until the full length of the fabric is glued in place.

6. Sew the Seam
   Unfold the pressed edge while keeping the two fabrics Right Sides Together (RST). Stitch along the crease of the fold, following the length of the fabric.

7. Trim and Press the Seam
   Keeping the fabric RST, trim off the selvages along the seam, leaving a 1/2" seam allowance. Press the seam open for a smooth finish.

And just like that, you have a quilt backing with a nearly invisible seam! This technique not only enhances the look of your quilt but also ensures that the backing complements the beauty of the quilt top. Give it a try on your next quilt, and enjoy the seamless finish!