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A Quick Explanation of a T-shirt's Quilt Backing & Binding

November 21st, 2022

1 min. read

By Andrea Funk

Here's a Quick Explanation of a T-shirt Quilt's Backing Material and Binding

Backing Material

Back of a T-shirt  quilt by Too Cool T-shirt quiltThe backing material is the fabric that you see on the back of a quilt. In the photo here, the backing material is blue.

There are many different types of fabric a quilter can choose from. Read more about that here.  Some is high quality and some is poor quality. We use 100% high quality cotton fabric.

Here at Too Cool T-shirt Quilts, we use a solid color fabric so you can see the quilting on the back of the quilt. We love to showcase our quilting.  If you use a print fabric, the quilting will not be seen. 

We also like to use a solid color because it will stay timeless. A print fabric can date a quilt very quickly. And not always in a good way. Read about why we don't like to use print/pattern fabrics.

You will need to choose the backing color for your quilt.  We have over 350 colors available. So a lot of choices!  Read more about how to choose your backing and binding color here. 

Note: We do not use white on the back of our quilts because it is difficult to keep clean while we work and it is see through.

Binding

Binding backing heroThe binding is the material that goes around the outside of the quilt. It finishes off the quilt so the raw edges of the quilt top, the batting and the backing are all hidden.

The binding can be the same color as the backing or it can be a contrasting color. For example, if the quilt is for a high school graduate, you can use the darker of the two school colors as the backing and the other school color as the binding. We also have print and batik batting - so your quilt can be a unique as you.

The binding is different than a border. Read more about borders here. 

Examples of Backing and Bindings

backing and binding in brown quilt by Too Cool T-shirt quilt

Backing and binding purple black quilt by Too Cool T-shirt quilt

 

Andrea Funk

Andrea Funk is the inventor of T-shirt quilts made with multiple blocks sizes. The modern method of making T-shirt quilts. In 1992 she founded Too Cool T-shirt Quilts. Her life has been immersed in T-shirt quilts ever since.