How do you think about quilt backings? When I was creating my last set of quilts for my latest book delivery, I got to thinking about quilt backings. I really wanted the backing to have some relationship to the front of the quilt.
And then it hit me, when did I change what I thought of backings?
Have you read the story of my 'First First' Quilt? If you want a giggle, go read it and come right back, I'll wait.
From that first quilt to my official class room 'first quilt', I was not that concerned about what I put on the back.
This quilt is my official 'first' class quilt. It was suggested that I buy a solid blue, which I was not so keen on. So when it came to backing it I pieced my leftover as the backing! i was thrilled to get rid of that blue.
Now I prefer to have my backs matching somewhat to the front - how i’ve changed over the years!
The next quilts are all ones that went into my book. This backing has similar colors to the front, then I added leftover pieces as a strip. Because it's wider than 40", the width of the fabric, this gives me an accent on the back.
I do this a lot. Here I have a hanging sleeves, which kind of ruins the effect, you can you can see that all i did was add a strip between the 2 units. You could get more creative with multiple strips, but I was in a hurry, one was enough!
And that means i didn't have to match the pattern, bonus!
This backing includes leftover blocks from the front. In a strip, but the top and bottom are the same as the rest of the fabric. And it's more tonal so no real need to match the pattern.
And a small quilt can have one fabric, no extra work, press, but and done!
Do you piece your backs?
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