EdieClay

I just finished a red, black, and white quilt top for a friend. I am left with lots of large pieces of fabric. I would like to piece a back for this quilt. I have one piece that is about 42 in. x 42 in. Thought I could start there, but not sure what to do. Have any of you pieced a back for your quilt? Did you use a pattern or just start sewing fabrics together? My quilt top is about 70 in. x 70 in.

QuiltE

Sometimes there's some organization to it ... in the first photo, you'll see butterflies that were fussy-cut from the main fabric on the front. The horizontal row of pieced butterflies were extras from what was also used on the front.

Sometimes I just put pieces together, scrappy like ... the second photo shows one where I just started adding pieces of the leftovers. To be sure to keep the backing flat, I stop and squared after every addition.

Both work ... depending on the look you want!

sash

Do it all the time, in fact the quilt on my bed is pieced and I love it as much as the top. I started with a large square too, don't remember how big it was, and added from there. It's all batik's, maybe that is why I love it so much. I'll see if I can find a picture.

joyce j

I put squares in sometimes ,other times i just use the colors from the front of quilt. Its fun to make your own design,I have made so many different ways ,like to see a quilt that you can use both sides as a top. joyce j

CharlottsQuilts

I never thought of doing this, what a great idea, I'm going to try it on my next quilt, it sure is better than buying so many yards for the back!

21quilter

I started piecing my backs a few years ago and now I do it on all my quilts. I think that they add personality to the quilt plus, they help eliminate leftovers in the scrap bin.

My last baby quilt I made I used leftover blocks pieced together and then used my leftover fabric to make large strips around the center block. The back was cutier than the top (in my opinion). Anyway just let your creativity rule. You'll be surprised what you end up with.

The only thing I would suggest is not to try to have anything that has be to centered or symmetric. It can be done but it can make it a little difficult.

EdieClay

Thanks so much for the ideas and the photos. I think I'll start with the large piece in the middle and create rows around that. I'll post a photo when I get it done. What great ideas!

QuiltE

I'm intrigued what the front of the quilt is like ... would you please show us a photo?
Thanks!


Some ideas ... with such a large piece, you may not want it left whole.
Or leave it whole, and put on point ... and then add your other pieces.

When I did the D9P ... on the back, I did an oversized two D9P and then added the rest of tha backing fabric. Here's a pic .........

susie-susie-susie

I did that once and had a terrible time getting it to lay flat. The quilt was never finished. The backs shown here are very pretty. Good luck with your quilt.
Sue

IAmCatOwned

Plan your back carefully so that it seems to carry on the theme from the front. Otherwise, it just looks like, well, leftovers. You paid a lot for that fabric on the front. Make sure you can be just as proud of the back. Poster QuiltE has really interesting backs. Even that totally scrappy one looks planned somehow.

I've done several quilts that use 2 different fabrics (not enough of any one) which went across the width. I have only done one pieced back using multiple fabrics. This was a quilt-as-you-go quilt that I did section by section and the placement reflects that. Its not nearly as interesting as Equilter's though.