How I Spend My Quilting Allowance: Part 1 — Background White & Backing Fabric

Welcome to How I Spend My Quilting Allowance!

If you've ever found yourself standing in a fabric shop, bolt in hand, wondering whether this purchase counts as a "necessity" or a "treat" — welcome, friend. You're in exactly the right place.

This is the first post in a new series called How I Spend My Quilting Allowance — a series dedicated to the nitty-gritty, practical, and sometimes delightfully indulgent world of quilting supplies and where to find them. Each installment will take a close look at a specific category of quilting essentials: what I buy, where I buy it, why I buy it in bulk (yes, bulk), and how I stretch every dollar of my quilting budget as far as it can go.

Whether you're a seasoned quilter with a studio full of fabric or someone just starting to build your stash, I hope this series helps you shop smarter, stock wisely, and feel confident about what belongs in your quilting arsenal.

First Up: The Unsung Heroes of Every Quilt — Background (White) & Backing Fabric

Let's talk about the fabrics that don't always get the spotlight but are absolutely essential to every project: background white fabric and backing fabric. These aren't the show-stopping prints that make you gasp at a quilt show. But without them? The show doesn't go on.

Background white fabric is the quiet backdrop that makes your colors pop, your patterns read clearly, and your design come alive. And backing fabric? It's literally what holds your quilt sandwich together — the foundation under all that beautiful quilting.

Why Buy by the Bolt?

If you quilt with any regularity, you already know the answer — but let me spell it out for anyone who's still on the fence about making that big bolt commitment:

• Cost savings: Buying by the bolt almost always means a lower price per yard compared to buying off the shelf in smaller cuts.

• Consistency: Having a reliable stash of the same white and backing fabrics means your projects always match and you never run out mid-quilt.

• Convenience: No last-minute trips to the store when inspiration strikes. Your bolt is already there, ready to go.

Where I Find the Best Bargains: Marshall Dry Goods

When it comes to stocking up on background whites and backing fabric, my go-to source is Marshall Dry Goods. If you haven't discovered them yet, you're in for a treat! Marshall Dry Goods is well known in the quilting community for offering quality fabrics at genuinely competitive prices — and they are particularly excellent for those everyday workhorses that we use bolt after bolt.

My Favorite Background Fabric: 25-Yard Bolt of White 45" Cotton

For background fabric, I always keep a 25-yard bolt of white 45" cotton on hand. Here's why this is my top pick:

• The 45" width is the classic quilting-cotton standard, perfect for blocks, sashing, and pieced backgrounds.

• 25 yards is a sweet spot — enough to get through several projects without taking up an enormous amount of storage space.

• A good crisp white is endlessly versatile — from traditional sampler quilts to modern minimalist designs, white background fabric works beautifully every time.

• Buying the full bolt from Marshall Dry Goods gets you a great price per yard compared to cutting smaller yardage from a retail bolt.

I think of this bolt the same way a baker thinks of all-purpose flour. It's not the glamorous ingredient, but everything else depends on it.

Don't Forget the Backing: Keep 1-2 Bolts of 108" Fabric on Hand

Now let's talk about backing fabric — specifically the wide stuff. If you're not already working with 108" wide backing fabric, this might just be the tip that changes your quilting life.

Standard quilting fabric is 44-45" wide, which means for most lap-size quilts and larger, you either need to sew panels together for your backing — or you use 108" wide fabric and cut one beautiful, seamless piece. I strongly prefer the latter — no seams to worry about, less waste, and a much faster process from top to finish.

My recommendation: keep 1 to 2 bolts of a basic 108" fabric in your stash at all times. A neutral — white, cream, or a soft gray — is the most versatile, because it works as backing for almost any quilt top without fighting the design. And once again, Marshall Dry Goods is my first stop for sourcing these at the best value.

Having backing fabric already on hand means that the moment you finish your quilt top, you're not waiting on a shipment or making an extra trip to the store. The next step of your project is right there. That momentum? Priceless.

Quick Recap: What to Stock Up On

• White 45" cotton fabric — buy the 25-yard bolt for the best price per yard. Use for blocks, sashing, and pieced backgrounds.

• 108" wide backing fabric — keep 1-2 bolts of a basic neutral on hand. No seams, less hassle, seamless quilting workflow.

• Where to buy: Marshall Dry Goods for the best bargains on both.

Coming Up Next in the Series...

Now that we've covered the staple fabrics that every quilter needs in reserve, the next installment of How I Spend My Quilting Allowance will dive into another essential category of the quilting budget. We'll be talking about what to look for, where the deals are, and how to make sure every dollar you spend on supplies takes your quilting further.

Until then — happy stitching! And if you're heading over to Marshall Dry Goods, maybe grab an extra bolt while you're at it. You know you'll use it. 😊