Your quilt top is finished, but it isn't yet a "quilt!" You still need the "filling" for your fabric sandwich, the decorative quilting, and the backing fabric.

Batting:
Batting is the filler for your fabric quilt "sandwich." Lowloft cotton batting is best for most quilting projects. Batting comes in the following standard sizes: Crib Size: 45"x60"; Twin 72"x90"; Double 81"x96"; Queen 90"x108"; King 120"x120".

Backing:
Many quilts have backings that are almost as interesting as the quilt front. For this beginning lesson, we will just do a simple backing. Depending on the size of your project, you may have to sew several widths together to achieve the 

TIP: Since most quilting fabrics are 45" wide, if your quilt is wider than 45", you will have to piece two widths together so your backing is wide enough. The proper way to widen fabric is to add two pieces to either side of the 45" piece, as shown here.

Step One: Making the "Fabric Sandwich"
First, cut the backing 4" larger than the quilt top. Place backing wrong side up on a flat surface -depending on the size of your quilt, you may have to use the floor! You may wish to tape it in place to keep the fabric from sliding around.

Step Two: Batting - The Filler
Your batting should be approximately the same size as your quilt top. Place the batting on top of the backing fabric, smoothing it as you go, and lining up with the edges of your backing.

Step Three: Add Your Quilt Top
Center the quilt top right side up on top of the batting. You are going to baste all layers together, so you will need some large safety pins to hold the layers in place while you sew.

Basting:
We use large safety pins to pin baste our quilt layers together. Start at the center and pin, placing pins 3" to 4" apart.

You're Ready to Quilt!
For these beginning lessons, we will assume that you will be machine quilting. Don't forget to load your bobbin with thread that matches the quilt backing.

There are numerous ways to quilt your project. One of the simplest is to "stitch in the ditch" - sew right in the seam lines on your quilt top, sewing through all layers. Be careful to remove pins to avoid damaging your machine's needle. Stitch all around your quilt blocks, wherever you see a seam. Do a little or a lot - the more quilting you do, the more dimensional your project will look. Start and end quilting with 3 or 4 back stitches.

Now... you're ready to bind your quilt.

Binding Your Quilt:
Binding adds the final finishing touch to your quilt. Choose coordinating or contrasting fabric, depending on the effect you are trying to achieve. There are different ways of doing bindings. For beginners, the following method is usually easiest:

When you have finished your quilting ("stitching in the ditch") pin all layers of your quilt sandwich together at the edges, and stitch 1/4" from the edges on all sides. Trim batting and back even with the quilt top.

Follow the directions in your pattern for binding strip measurements. If you are working with 45" wide fabric, you may have to cut several strips and sew them together into one long continuous strip. (Most of our quilt bindings begin with 3"x45" strip).

Press the strip in half lengthwise, so that it measures 1-1/2" wide.

Cut the side strips first, making them 2" longer than the side measurements, to allow for errors. Sew binding strips onto front side of quilt, keeping all raw edges together in a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim excess. Repeat on the other side of your quilt. Trim excess.

Repeat the steps above for the binding for the top and bottom of your quilt. Fold binding to back and blindstitch folded edge along seam line, tucking in excess in corners and stitching into place to secure.

You have now completed your quilt!