What the Multi Cat Pack Wideback Is
The Multi Cat Pack Wideback Cotton Fabric, made by Windham Fabrics, is a 108-inch cotton wideback sold by the yard. Instead of a quiet solid or a subtle blender, this one brings a whole pack of cats to the back of the quilt, in a multi-colour print. That matters more than it might sound. Quilters spend hours choosing prints for the top, then often default to something plain underneath — yet the back is half the quilt, and it is the side that shows when a quilt is folded over a sofa, draped at the foot of a bed, or flipped over in use. A playful cat print turns that overlooked side into part of the story, which makes this backing a natural fit for cat lovers, for quilts gifted to them, and for projects where a little humour belongs.
Because it is cotton at a full 108 inches wide, it also does the practical job a wideback is bought for: covering most quilt tops in a single seamless panel, with no piecing, no matched seams, and no seam ridge running down the middle of the finished quilt.
Size Math: Top Plus 8 Inches
Whatever backing you choose, plan for it to measure at least 8 inches wider and 8 inches longer than your quilt top — top width plus 8, top length plus 8. That extra gives a longarm quilter about 4 inches on every side to load, clamp, and absorb the small shifts that happen during quilting.
Now apply that rule to a 108-inch width. A throw top of 60 by 72 inches needs a backing of about 68 by 80 inches — easily inside one width, so roughly 2¼ yards covers the length. A queen top of 90 by 95 inches needs about 98 by 103 inches, which still fits across the 108-inch width, so about 3 yards does the job with no seam at all. Even many king tops can be backed by rotating the fabric or by using the width as the length. Work the math before you order: finished top size, plus 8 inches in each direction, checked against 108 inches across.
Cotton, Minky, or Flannel on the Back?
- 108-inch cotton wideback: stable, breathable, and seamless for the largest quilts. It loads precisely, presses crisply, and shows clear stitch definition, making it the default for big beds and everyday quilts — and the format this Cat Pack print comes in.
- Minky: plush, warm, and the softest of the three against the skin, with more stretch and drape. Lovely for throws that will be cuddled daily, but trickier to keep smooth on the frame.
- Flannel: brushed and cosy, sitting between the two — softer than quilting cotton, steadier than minky, but the most shrink-prone, so it benefits most from prewashing.
Choose by the job and the recipient: cotton for size, stability, and a print that carries the design, flannel for brushed warmth, and minky when softness matters most.
Working Tips: Folds, Prewashing, and Loading
Pressing the fold: Widebacks arrive folded, and a centre crease can be stubborn in cotton. Unfold the fabric as soon as it arrives, give it a thorough press with steam, and work the fold line from both sides. If a crease lingers, a light spray of water before pressing usually releases it. Do this before loading, not after.
Prewashing: Cotton can shrink a little and can release excess dye on a first wash, especially in a multi-colour print. If your quilt top is already washed, or if you prefer a softer, crinkled finish after quilting, prewash the backing the same way you plan to wash the finished quilt. If you like a crisper top, many quilters skip prewashing and let all the layers shrink together on the first wash instead — just be consistent.
Longarm loading: Load the backing with the print running the way you want it to appear on the finished quilt, square the edges before pinning, and keep the tension even rather than tight. A busy print like this one is forgiving in quilting, too: it hides travelling stitches and small tension imperfections far better than a plain solid would.
Care
Care for a finished quilt backed in quilting cotton the straightforward way: wash gently in cool to warm water with like colours, and dry on a low to medium setting or line dry. The first wash or two is when any loose dye is most likely to move, so keep lights separate at first. Pressed and stored folded away from direct sunlight, a cotton backing keeps its colour and its crisp, smooth hand for years — and the cats stay just as cheerful as the day the quilt came off the frame.
Shop the Multi Cat Pack Wideback Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
