Just recently I had to add a strip to a center backing for a doll quilt. It was un bleashed muslin so I added a yellow strip in the middle. Isn't it said that cats have a yellow streek down their back ? Hugs

Had the same happen on the middle GD's Christmas quilt I was making her last year. Just took some material and cut it to size, embroidered her name the year of the quilt and Love ya Grandma on it, then finished it on my DSM. But its different when its someone elses material and pattern. Good luck and hope it all turns out great for you ....

Most of the quilts at my guild have "blocked" backings, or have borders. There is nothing, these days, that says you have to have all the same fabric on the back. Quilters are getting creative with their quilt backs. I like it. More interest and always a surprise when using the quilt, more color, more movement. I don't see the problem, get a matching fabric and put a heavy border top/bottom or all four sides.
Diana

You mentioned that you were only a little short. When that happened to me, I just trimmed a slight amount of fabric on the other three borders to match. If it involves points, it would probebly be better to lose a bit of the points, than to add on another piece to the border. Barbara from MA

Necessity is the mother of invention and it sounds like you have a solution. Hindsight 20-20!
It may be extremely frustrating for the moment but next time you get a backing of questionable size, I bet you'll figure it out BEFORE you load it and start work.

Hey, be creative. I have had this happen and I just tell people I do it on purpose so that they can tell the top of the quilt from the bottom. Make a row of squares or triangles that match the colors on the front but be creative and that way it looks nice and she will always know the difference between the top and the bottom of the quilt from the back (my husband loves this when he makes the bed) and I have made a row of the quilt bordering material with 3 or 4 designed blocks from the front of the quilt and put it at the bottom or the top of the back. Maybe this helps.

I'd just throw a solid 5" stripe of a coordinating color on the back. As long as this quilt isn't for show, it will be just as warm!

Most of my backs are pieced in this manner.

I've used a row of orphan blocks on the back. That worked out really pretty.

Confessing my stupidity, I made a "Beatles" quilt from Fons and Porter magazine...not from a kit. I have never taken a quilt to a professional prior to this....so I matched the backing with the front. The poor guy almost had a heart attack. Bless his heart, he quilted it for me and did a beautiful job. My daughter that lives in England received it at Christmas and loves it.....but, I was sent home with the backing of another quilt to add some fabric to it. Jurgen really saved me, as it was basically a two-sided quilt. Love that man. Will never make that mistake again.l

Just Barb

I'm with Skittl1321 (#27). Just add a piece of a different fabric to the bottom of the quilt. It can be coordinating or contrasting. They can use it to tell top from bottom. I've used different fabric when I didn't have enough of one for the back. I've even seen pieced backs (a bunch of pieces sewn together).