Quilting8 min read
Vertical or horizontal? Piece a quilt backing with less waste
The lowest-yardage layout is not always the best layout. Compare seam direction, print direction, handling, and the offcuts you will actually reuse.
Read the field noteQuilting / free calculator
Quilt backing calculator
Enter your finished quilt and usable fabric width. Yard & Loop adds your chosen overhang, tests both seam directions, and rounds the winning layout up to the selected unit’s purchasing increment.
No signupLive resultPrint-friendly
Live project plan
Lowest-yardage layout
Run full-length panels
12
Buy at least5 yd4.57 m equivalent
Backing target68 in × 88 in
Layout offcut≈ 18%excludes seam take-up & shrinkage
Full-length panels2 panels · 4.89 yd
Crosswise bands3 bands · 5.67 yd
Check fabric direction, pattern instructions, and real material before cutting.
Before you cut
What this result assumes.
The result is a planning estimate, not a substitute for the pattern, the material in front of you, or the requirements of your quilter. Keep these boundaries with the printed plan.
- 01
Measurements use the usable fabric width after selvages are removed.
- 02
Panel count deducts both seam allowances at every join.
- 03
Purchases round up to a quarter yard in Imperial mode or 0.1 metre in Metric mode.
- 04
Directional prints may rule out the lower-yardage orientation.
- 05
Prewashing, pattern matching, and longarm-specific requirements need extra allowance.
One last check