Wide Backs, Friendship & Holiday Inspiration

As we ease into the weekend — and the start of the holiday season — here’s something lighthearted, inspiring, and full of quilting wisdom to enjoy with your morning coffee.

Today we’re shining a spotlight on our dear friend Angie Dugan, owner of The Quilting Connection in Elkhorn and Appleton, Wisconsin. Angie and her family have been part of the quilting world for generations. She’s been longarm quilting since 1999 and continues to share her love of fabric, creativity, and community with quilters across Wisconsin and beyond.

Recently, Angie wrote a wonderful blog post all about extra wide quilt backings — what they are, why they matter, and how they make quilting easier and more enjoyable. We’re honored that she featured our 112" Batik Cotton Wide Backs among her favorites!

A Note from Angie

“Hi, I’m Angie Dugan, owner of The Quilting Connection, a fifth-generation, family-owned business. I’ve been longarm quilting since 1999 and have always loved SewBatik fabrics.

In 2010–2011, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to trade shows and work with the SewBatik team — an experience I’ll never forget! I continue to highly recommend their products, especially their wide backs. As a longarm quilter, anything that helps me get to my frame faster — and with the quality and luxurious feel of SewBatik’s wide backs — truly stands above the rest.

I’m also so grateful to call Diane and Bruce not just industry colleagues, but dear friends.”

Wide Back Wisdom — and Why It Matters

In her post, Angie takes a thoughtful look at wide back fabrics — from saving time and avoiding seams to the differences between cotton, flannel, batik, and minky options. She also shares professional tips on squaring, loading, and handling wide back fabric for best results on your longarm frame.

It’s an inspiring and educational read for anyone planning to finish their quilts this season.

👉 Read Angie’s Full Blog Post on The Quilting Connection »

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

To go along with this special feature, we couldn’t resist adding a little seasonal spirit. You’ll see two hand-dyed wide backs — one in deep red and one in rich green — in today’s photo. They remind us that the holidays are just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to stock up for winter quilting projects and handmade gifts!

While traditional red and green bring warmth to the season, many quilters — myself included — love the serene beauty of decorating with shades of blue.

From soft Cream Pearl to deep Twilight Blue, our hand-dyed wide backs capture the magic of winter skies and glistening snow. These tranquil tones bring elegance and calm to any holiday project or home décor piece.

Whether your holiday palette leans festive or serene, our hand dyed and stamped batik wide backs add warmth, texture, and artistry to every quilt - and home decor project. 

Our Thank You Gift Is Still Active!

When you purchase $50 or more of Batik Cotton, including our extra wide 112" Batik Cotton Wide Backs, you’ll receive a thank you gift of 8 Fat Eights. For those of you who have read our recent newsletters, we include yardage of our 45" Nuance Gradations and 45" Batik Cotton in our gift giving. Each pack is hand selected and packaged for you, a little surprise mix of color and texture to spark your next creative idea. Please know that you need to add the Thank You Pack to your shopping cart. Before you add your fabric to your shopping cart - click the Thank You Gift in the item's description. 

It’s the perfect time to prepare your quilt backings for winter projects, build your stash, and enjoy a little surprise with your order.

➡️ Shop 112" Batik Cotton Wide Backs »

➡️ Shop 45" Batik Cotton Collection »

➡️ Shop 45" Nuance Gradations »

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Closing Thoughts

We’re so grateful for the friendships quilting has brought into our lives — people like Angie remind us that this community is stitched together with kindness, craftsmanship, and shared inspiration.

Here’s to a season filled with creativity, color, and connection.

Happy Holiday Quilting,