How do you choose your backings for your quilts? Do you like for them to match? Kinda go with the top . . either in color or design? I don’t ever worry too much about the backings. I might get something that matches but I might not. I have the hardest time using that much fabric out of my stash . . which is pretty sad since I’m trying to use the stash. What’s wrong with me?
When I find fabric on sale, it’s usually not the most attractive fabric so I say to myself “That will make a great backing!” Then when it’s time to use it, I tell myself that I shouldn’t use it for a backing because I might can use it for a top.
Here’s the back side of the wild quilt.
This backing is a burnt orange/black stripe (of sorts). I knew it was a perfect backing for this quilt but I had the hardest time using it for a backing. Twice I put it back in the fabric closet. Finally I grabbed it, ran to the sewing machine, sewed two pieces together, loaded it on the longarm and would you believe . . I was tempted to take it off the longarm and put it back in the fabric closet.
The funny thing is that it was already in two pieces. I’m betting that at some point I must have almost convinced myself to use this same piece as a backing, got as far as cutting it and then changed my mind before seaming it up.
Done! Used as a backing! I still can’t say I’m happy about having used it but . . it’s history now.
Donna says
looks like the oerfect back for that quilt!
Ranch Wife says
I have a hard time choosing backings. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to use, like the quilt top I just pieced for Tyler. I KNEW that eagle fabric was going on the back, but that doesn’t happen very often. In fact, I knew that would be on the back before I knew what I was making for the front. My Scrap Jar Stars quilt has been pieced for some time, but it is still hanging around, waiting for a backing. I tend to make big quilts and I rarely have 6-8 yard pieces in my stash.
Melanie says
I know exactly what you mean. I hate to use up my fabric for backings, even though I get to see it all in one big piece if I use it on the back. Unless I give it away.
Deb Praus says
Love it for the backing! Lately, I have been choosing backings that have NOTHING to do with the front. I did a beautiful Thanksgiving hand-colored wall hanging and put a Snoopy backing on it, although he was raking leaves. No one else will probably ever see it but it makes me smile!
Ida in Central PA says
Some of my backing matches my quilt, some doesn’t.
I recently had a quilt top quilted for DH — it is a top that his Mom made sometime in the 70’s (based on the fabrics). I inherited the quilting trunk in 2000 after her death. The top sat un-earthed for quite some time. Then it sat for a bit longer before I finally decided to have it quilted. The backing for this top — which he assures me was intended as a ‘picnic quilt’ has a dark green rose pattern. I bought a ‘mistake’ that I bought from Eleanor Burns Sale Tent in Paducah in 2007. I searched for the ‘mistakes’ (looking for a huge white streak, or run, or something, but couldn’t find ANYTHING. My quilter admitted to me that she also looked for the mistake, but couldn’t find it. (Of course I had sent the backing in its original package.) [I bought several of those mistakes — one pink, one blue, one green … 108″x 108″ backings for $6 each — and I had a hard time sending it to the quilter]
On a recent trip to Paducah (coming back from visiting my sisters in Kansas City), I stopped at Hancock’s of Paducah and purchased several ‘sale’ pieces — intended for backs. They are 108″ x various widths — 3/4y, 1 1/2y, 1/34y, etc. The pieces were very inexpensive, but purchased for backs because they are inexpensive, and intended as backings for quilts for children — the front is the show-piece, the back doesn’t matter as much, except for a place to store the label.
I have a long-time project that I’m still searching for the ‘perfect’ backing for. The quilt is Ann Holte’s “Lancaster Diamonds” pattern — a replica of a quilt made in the 1860’s. I’ve worked long and hard on this quilt, and believe that I want the backing to ‘match’ the period of the quilt — so, that would be a reproduction fabric.
I also have a ‘hunk’ of fabric (I think it says 5 yds) that is a subtle pink/white herringbone that I paid $8 for [yes, for the WHOLE 5 yards, not PER YARD]. I bought it intending it for a backing — I just have to ‘find’ the quilt that it will back be the backing for. 🙂 While the pink doesn’t match (period-wise), that hunk of herringbone might be my backing (if it’s big enough). Then again … I searched for a year to find ‘the perfect’ double-pink for the sashing of the Lancaster Diamonds …. so, it might not!
Mary Lea Reynolds says
Glad to hear that…now I know it’s normal! The backing looks good!
Lee Ann L. says
My backing often coordinates with the top and is often pieced and could be taken to be another quilt (two-sided). I usually design the backing with leftover fabrics from the top plus extra if I need to add any.
Krista says
I like my backing to match, or at least coordinate with the quilt. I’ve been piecing a lot of backings lately, out of leftover fabric from the quilt. But when I don’t have something particular in mind, I definitely have trouble pulling something from my stash for backing – I might want it for a quilt! I now have a bunch of sale fabrics which I bought specifically to be backings for future quilts. We’ll see how that works 🙂
Tinkerfeet says
I have the problem that I can’t put on a plain backing it has to be pieced designs. Some times I spend more time on the back then the front. Lol I think I need help.
Norma V says
i have a different problem….i have trouble using pieces of large pieces for the quilt, itself….i keep thinking, if it’s large it could be a back…
pdudgeon says
No ugly fabric backings for me, thanks! my backings have to be beautiful and work just as hard as my fronts do.
Sometimes my backing is pieced from cut-off left overs of previous quilt backs, but not often.. I shop online for almost all of my backings at thousands of bolts (www.thousandsofbolts.com) and find enough yardage at a VERY reasonable price, so i can flip the quilt over and use the beautiful backing as a wholecloth quilt. that way i get two quilts for the price of one, and i get to see and enjoy the backing just as much as the front of the quilt. By doing that i’ve solved the delima of the ‘back or front’ usage because both sides are wonderful.
EagleKnits says
For smaller quilts, I usually go to Wal-Mart and buy a sheet in a coordinating color — a twin size only costs $6 or $7, I don’t have to seam it, and usually have a little fabric left over. I like to think of the back as the place to show off the quilting. A couple of friends have started making pieced backings, though, and I must admit that the idea of a ‘reversible’ quilt is very appealing. Maybe I’ll try it when my stash gets larger — I haven’t been quilting very long.
WiAmy says
My backs don’t have to match the front, but they should coordinate! I put lots of work into piecing them and when they are used, the back does show! I will do some piecing if needed to coordinate and use up some of the left overs from the front. Like you though, I don’t always want to use certain pieces that I know will work great on the front of other quilts. I am trying to “get over” that though trying to convince myself, better used than sitting on the self X more years waiting to be used and that I could buy more later at another sale or for a specific project if I need it! The other thing that I keep in mind though for large quilts, backing fabric (sold as backings) are MUCH more economical so I do buy those. When buying backing fabric, you do have to keep in mind that most shrink at least 5% and 5% of 100 inches is 5 inches! I wash those fabrics because I do know that they shrink alot and after washing they do seem a little “thicker.” For wall hangings, I am not quite as particular as these backings as they don’t show. So many factors to consider!
carolyn says
Ever since I struggled making a quilt for my Grandson, then found he used the BACK of the quilt on the UPSIDE more often than not,( He said he liked the color better) I’ve tried to make the Back of the quilt as interesting as the front. Right now I’m finishing a back, just 12″ quares on point, added boraders to make it larger I can see my DD using that side more than the other. Oh Well I’ve never had a quilt refused.
Maybe I should choise “ugly” fabrics for the backs! LOL
Barbara Sindlinger says
Lately I have been using left over pieces from the top and whatever else I have in my baskets of fabrics that have been there a while. They don’t necessarily have to match the front. However, the quilt I’m working on now is a scrap quilt so I looked at my fabric boxes and my blue was overflowing so I grabbed a bunch of blue fabrics – put them together and made a back.
Kate says
Oh thats funny! I have sort of the same problem, Since I pretty much make bed size quilts I think what does it matter whats on the back? For lap quilts I like to put something pretty. Im also on a low budget and cant afford to put shop quality on the back, too expensive. Im doing one top that I want to put in some shows next year and all my quilting buddies tell me you have to put someting nice on the back, cant use muslin and Im having the hardenst time finding something and needing to pay another $100 bucks just for the back… sigh.
Micki says
It never ceases to amaze me how different and yet similar we are ! I have felt both ways over quilt backs-fussy and not so much, depending on what it’s for and how much time and money I’ve put in the front. Micki
Gari says
I think I like the backing to coordinate somewhat with the front because it is a quilt, too. Unless it is a wall quilt, either side will be seen and I want them both to be interesting. Not that that always happens but that’s what I want. 😉
Joan in NE says
Di I ever know what you mean. I constantly find a sale fabric that I think “that will make a good back” and end up having a hard time using it for that. However, these days I am finding I use left over pieces and piece them into backs. Hopefully get some kind of pattern going for the pieced backs, and end up with an interesting backing.
Angie in SoCal says
I’m like you – I don’t fuss much with the backings. Most of the time they don’t match – especially if I am piecing it. If I am piecing it I do try to use one piece that is the same color as the front.
Mary says
I made a decision several years ago that if a fabric worked for backing… I would use it.