Backing: A quilt consists of three layers. The bottom layer of a quilt is a piece of fabric that is referred to as the backing.  Backing fabric can be a single piece of extra wide backing fabric, a fabric of your choice which will be sewn together to the size needed or even scraps of fabrics sewn to make up the required size.

As a general rule, the backing is always about 4 inches longer and wider on all sides to allow for quilting.

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Background quilting: Stitching in open interior spaces, such as in setting squares. Squares, diamonds, clamshells, or other small regular shapes are commonly used as background quilting. The closely spaced lines tend to flatten the area being quilted, creating a low-relief, textured appearance. Also called filler quilting.

 

Bargello: A quilt style identified by peaks and valleys created from squares of fabric that are sewn in strips, then cut and offset before joining the strips again.

 

Basting: Basting uses long stitches used to temporarily hold fabric in place, can be done by hand or by machine. Also called Thread Basting.

For quilt basting, there are a couple of different methods; the main two used - thread basting or pin basting. Thread basting holds all three layers (quilt top, batting and backing) in place ready for quilting. (It is not necessary to secure thread knots on either ends of the stitching, as it is merely a way to secure the layers together. These stitches are removed once quilting is complete.) Pin basting uses curved safety pins to secure the quilt layers together.

 

Basting spray: Adhesive available in a spray can that may be used to hold the layers of a quilt together instead of thread- or pin-basting.

 

Batting: Material used between the quilt top and quilt backing. Batting is also referred to as Wadding. It is generally made from cotton, cotton/polyester blend, bamboo, wool, or bamboo/cotton blend.

 

Bias: The length or width of woven fabric is considered straight grain, there is no stretch when fabric is on the straight of grain. When you cut diagonally at 45-degree angle across the straight grain, you will be on bias. When cutting on the Bias you will always have a greater amount of stretch.

 

Bias Tape: Strips of fabric in various widths that are cut diagonally across the grain to give the fabric some movement so it will turn curves nicely. Can be bought or made. 

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Binding: This finishes the quilt by encasing the raw edges with a strip of fabric. This can be made from straight or bias depending upon the quilt (a curved edge would use bias binding so it sits nicely around the curves). 

 

Bleeding: When colour or dyes from one fabric transfers to another during washing. This is due to hand dyes or colour saturated fabrics losing their dyes when they are wet. Vividly coloured fabrics, particularly purples and reds commonly bleed when washed. (I always include Colour catchers, as I don’t pre-wash fabrics)

Pre-washing fabric is a personal choice. The only thing to consider is that if making a quilt, all pieces should be either pre-washed or not, as this will affect the finish of the quilt when it has its first wash!

 

Blocks: The basic unit, usually square and often repeated, from which many quilts are composed. Blocks may be pieced, appliquéd, or solid. Seams are traditionally ¼ inch.

 

Blocking: When a block is not square, a process that requires wetting and pressing fabric to a proper square block. Steam can also help stretch portions of your block to match other blocks.

 

Block mock-up: A sample of a block made by cutting the shapes from the desired fabric and affixing them to a surface. Creating mock-up blocks allows the quilter to see how fabrics will work together when cut into smaller pieces.

 

Bobbin work: Winding thick decorative threads that won't fit through the machine needle onto the bobbin, then stitching from the quilt back so the bobbin thread appears on the quilt front.

 

Borders: Strips of fabric that frame the quilt. You can have one or many borders in a quilt top. You may also have borders surrounding your quilt blocks, also known as sashing.

 

Border prints: Contained fabric designs that run lengthwise on the fabric bolt. Often these prints are cut apart and used as a quilt border.

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Burr: A nick or rough area on a needle that may snag fabric.

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Butted corners: Term used when border pieces meet at a 90° angle or when binding pieces overlap in the corner at a 90° angle, rather than being mitred.