Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to cut out a quilt backing from wide fabric, on the table or on the floor, without chewed edges.
Here's the problem, y'all. Backing fabric is big. A wide backing runs about 108 inches across. Your quilt top might need a piece 88 by 98 inches. And if you're left-handed, regular shears fight you the whole way. You can't see your line. The fabric pushes apart instead of cutting. The edge comes out nibbled.
I've been there. Oh my goodness, yes. So here's what I use and why. The 728L is a true left-hand shear, 8 inches long. Not just a flipped handle, folks. The blades are mirror-ground for a left hand, so you can see your cutting line as you go. The bent handle is offset, too. It keeps the lower blade flat on the surface while your hand stays up out of the fabric. Flat blade, clean cut. Just like that.
What You Need
- 728L - 8" True Left-Hand Razor Edge Fabric Shear
- Wide backing fabric, about 108 inches wide
- Your quilt top measurements, written down
- A long ruler or straight edge
- Chalk or a fabric marker
- A tape measure
- A big clean table — or a clean, swept floor
The Steps
- Do the math first. Measure your quilt top. Say it finishes 80 by 90 inches. Add 4 inches on every side for backing overage — 8 inches total each way. So you need a backing piece 88 by 98 inches. Write it down. Measure twice, cut once. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
- Pick your surface honestly. If the whole piece lays flat on your table, cut at the table. If fabric drapes over the edges, it pulls and shifts. Take it to the floor. Sweep first. A clean floor beats a too-small table every time. Completely up to you.
- Lay the fabric out flat. Spread the wide fabric smooth. Walk around it and ease out the wrinkles with your hands. Don't stretch it. Just relax it flat. A bubble now becomes a crooked edge later.
- Mark your cutting line. Measure from a straight, trimmed edge. Mark your 88-inch width with chalk at three points — near, middle, far. Lay the ruler through the marks. Draw one clear line. Lefties, this is where seeing the line pays off.
- Start the cut at the near edge. Slide the lower blade under the fabric, flat against the table or floor. That offset bent handle does the work here. Your knuckles clear the fabric.
- Cut in long, steady strokes. Open the shears wide. Close in one smooth stroke. Stop just short of fully closed, then advance the blades. Little snips chew an edge. Long strokes keep it smooth. With a true left-hand shear, the blades pass the right way, so the fabric cuts instead of folding between the blades.
- Walk, don't reach. A 98-inch cut means moving. Shuffle along the line as you go, shears right in front of you. Reaching stretches your stroke sideways, and sideways strokes wander off the line.
- Never lift the fabric to cut. The moment you lift wide backing, it shifts and stretches. Keep it resting on the surface and let the flat lower blade travel under it. Slow down near the last few inches — that's where folks rush and nick the corner.
- Turn and cut the second dimension. Close the shears. Walk to the next side. Mark, ruler, line — same routine. Measure once more before you fold it. 88 by 98, on the dot, is a really really good feeling.
Tips From My Cutting Table
- Cut on the floor? Pad your knees. A folded towel makes a long floor session much kinder. Take your time. It's not a race.
- Square one edge first. If the end of your yardage is crooked from the bolt, trim it straight before you measure. Every measurement after that is easier.
- Lefties, trust the mirror grind. If you've spent years twisting right-hand shears to see the line, take a few practice cuts on scrap first. The sight line feels different. Then it feels right.
And here's your permission beat. A backing doesn't have to be perfect to the thread. It gets quilted, trimmed, and bound. You're your own worst critic here. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
A Quick Care Note
Wipe the blades with a soft, dry cloth when you finish. Floor cutting picks up dust, and dust dulls an edge. Store the shears closed, in a case or tray, for fabric only. Paper is not fabric's friend.
Alrighty. Flat blade, long strokes, walk the line. Thanks for spending time with me, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 728L - 8" True Left-Hand Razor Edge Fabric Shear at Linda's Electric Quilters.
