Choosing a backing when I can't match original fabric?
#21
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Thanks for that "No Rule" lesson. I would grab a color wheel and find a complimentary or coordinating color for the back. Then if you have a guest that hates the front color, you can flip it over and have a different quilt on the bed.
#22
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
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I have really grown attached to the idea of "two sided" quilts, and/or more action on the back. The way I work I usually have a few orphan blocks or fabrics that didn't make it into the top (usually because of a large scale print) and more and more I've been incorporating those into the back.
Some of my backs are pretty wild, because they were bought at the thrift store mostly because they were big enough... but it's a great place to use wild fabrics and large scale prints.
I'm also trying really hard to use up stash, and "pieces big enough for backs" is not my strong point. I do, however, have a lot of 3-yard pieces where I can piece two of those into back.
For your quilt, I'd be looking at something with maybe a white background and something swirly (paisley? flower outlines?? butterflies??) in blues and aqua and teal. Or could could go with geometric designs.
Some of my backs are pretty wild, because they were bought at the thrift store mostly because they were big enough... but it's a great place to use wild fabrics and large scale prints.
I'm also trying really hard to use up stash, and "pieces big enough for backs" is not my strong point. I do, however, have a lot of 3-yard pieces where I can piece two of those into back.
For your quilt, I'd be looking at something with maybe a white background and something swirly (paisley? flower outlines?? butterflies??) in blues and aqua and teal. Or could could go with geometric designs.
#23
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Join Date: Jan 2015
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A print with blue green would do, though with the angles in the front, I wouldn't choose a floral. You can piece the back with what fabric you do have from the front and just add the print. For some reason, I piece most of my back vertically - even if I use wide backing, I cut it.
#24
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 4,952
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First, I really like your quilt top. It looks like the ocean to me...very pretty!
I love a contrasting color for the back. If it were me, I'd pick something earthy to go with a natural, watery theme. The colors of stones, tree bark, bright, yellow sun would be my suggestions.
I love a contrasting color for the back. If it were me, I'd pick something earthy to go with a natural, watery theme. The colors of stones, tree bark, bright, yellow sun would be my suggestions.
#26
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Join Date: Feb 2020
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A print with blue green would do, though with the angles in the front, I wouldn't choose a floral. You can piece the back with what fabric you do have from the front and just add the print. For some reason, I piece most of my back vertically - even if I use wide backing, I cut it.
#28
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One other thing that I almost always do is my binding has to be the same as my outer border. The exception is if I made a child/baby quilt. I don’t want someone's eye centered on the binding. I want the first thing they see is the quilt pattern, fabrics that I choose, and the quilting.
#29
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
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ummm....I like good quality fabric but it is hard to pay full price for the fabric on the back.....so what I have done in the past is to look through the fabric on the sale rack in the quilt shops....it was fairly often that I could find a bolt with enough fabric for a backing for 50% or more off....I would buy it if I thought it would make a good backing for something....so...I have a shelf of baking fabrics and can usually find something that I like...and there have been times when I shopped in my "bargin bin" that the backing I found was just the thing to use....other times I find a backing that "will work". Most of the time, I use my quilts right side up, but I have a flannel one that is really bright intense primary colors....for the backing I had purchased a medium brown backing with penguins on it that had pops of bright colors on their little scarfs and hats....and I have used the quilt bottom up a few times....I got that good flannel backing for $4 a yard...It normally sold for $12. I am satisfied. Oh,and that particular fabric I bought online as I was looking for flannel to use as backing on my scrap flannel quilts as I was trying to use up my flannel scraps...I also ended up with 21 yards of a medium gray flannel that I will use too...for that I paid about $4 and I got enough that I also got the quantity discount and free shipping. .I ended up making about 10 quilts of different sizes...it was fun.