Why Wideback Gingham Makes the Perfect Quilt Backing: Pink Coral Bee Ginghams Guide
Every quilt has two sides, and the backing deserves as much thought as the top. The Pink Coral Lori Holt Bee Ginghams Cotton Wideback Fabric from Riley Blake Designs is a 107/108-inch-wide cotton fabric designed to back most quilts in a single, seamless piece. Instead of piecing together several cuts of standard 44/45-inch fabric, you get one generous width, fewer seams, and a smooth, classic gingham finish that looks finished from every angle.
What Is Bee Ginghams Wideback?
Bee Ginghams is part of Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet's family of basics for Riley Blake Designs — cheerful, vintage-inspired staples meant to coordinate across projects. This version takes the familiar gingham check in a warm pink coral and scales it up to wideback width. According to the product details, it is 100 percent cotton and measures 107/108 inches wide, sold per yard. That extra width is the whole point: a queen-size quilt top, and many king-size layouts turned sideways, can be backed without a center seam.
The product description notes it is cut from quality yarns for a clean finish, is easy to wash and maintain, and retains its charm after repeated washes — important for a backing, which takes the most contact with beds, laps, and laundry.
Why Choose a Wideback Over Pieced Backing?
A pieced backing is a wonderful way to use up leftovers, but it costs time and can create a bulky seam right where your quilting needs to lie flat. A wideback solves three problems at once. First, there is no seam to align, press, or worry about shifting on a longarm frame. Second, you buy exactly what you need by the yard — for most quilts, about three yards gives you the length you need with a few inches of overhang on all sides for loading and quilting. Third, the result looks intentional. Gingham reads as a design choice, not an afterthought, so a quilt folded over a sofa arm or turned down on a bed still shows a pretty, coordinated reverse side.
Color Pairing With Pink Coral
Pink coral sits happily between pink and peach, which makes it surprisingly versatile. Pair it behind quilt tops in aqua, sea glass, denim blue, and soft green for that fresh, cottage contrast Lori Holt palettes are known for. It softens crisp white and cream tops without competing with them, warms up gray-based modern quilts, and echoes the coral and blush accents that appear in many floral collections. Because a gingham check is a small, even, all-over pattern, it will not fight a busy quilt top — it adds gentle texture and a nostalgic, picnic-blanket feeling instead.
Beyond Quilt Backs: Other Uses
The product notes list quilts, upholstery, drapings, and table cloths among the uses for this wide cotton, and the width helps there too. One cut can cover a wide table without a join, make generous curtains, or become a lightweight summer coverlet on its own with batting and a simple binding. Its easy-care nature suits everyday home decor and accessories that will be washed often.
Cutting, Quilting, and Care Tips
Before cutting, press the fabric well and square one end — wide fabric can shift on the bolt. Measure your quilt top, then add at least 4 inches on each side for quilting overhang. Load or baste so the gingham checks run straight; the regular grid actually helps you spot drift early. Gingham's even pattern quilts beautifully with all-over designs, crosshatching, or simple straight lines that follow the checks.
For care, follow the easy-wash guidance in the product description: wash gently, avoid harsh heat, and press as needed so the cotton keeps its crisp, cheerful look wash after wash. Pre-washing is a personal choice, but it is wise when pairing a saturated backing with a very light quilt top.
Try a wideback once — the time saved and that sweet pink coral gingham on the reverse may change how you finish every quilt that follows.
Shop the Pink Coral Lori Holt Bee Ginghams Cotton Wideback Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
