barnbum

I want the job to stop with the top. :roll: But--I can't get the last three tops to the quilter's without backs, and since it was a summer goal (two tops short of that!) and school starts 9/09/09...(I've already put in 32 hours getting my classroom ready--and have two full teacher days before students arrive...)..I needed to keep moving.

So, after trying numerous ideas for the floral log cabin, I just bought a 108" back... it was the only choice with flowers, but I think it works. Pink and purple are not my favorite colors, but I'm going to put this one up for sale. I'll make more. :wink:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1997.jpg[/img]

For the Black and White Splash, I pieced some fabrics together I can't figure out how to use anywhere else. :roll: The center is all one piece--I have plenty of other black and white fabrics. The batik ginkgo leaves is very bright--and doesn't match any of my other batiks, and the blue is bright but I don't like the look of the fabric close up--the design makes it look more like rubber than nature. :wink:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1995.jpg[/img]

And I was going to use the trees for Walk Through the Park...but I think I want that for part of the Kayaking on the Lake top, so I fumbled through my fallish stash and found some of these. The small fall leaves was found in the fabric shop yesterday--buy one yard, get one free!! The small piece is one I just got from Connecting Threads. The pinecones is nice--but I've had it for years and haven't used it yet...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_2000.jpg[/img]

Close up of fabrics
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_2004.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_2005.jpg[/img]

And..I've noticed when I'm stressed out, buying fabrics sooths me. :wink: And since my classroom moved and it's taken SO long to get it close to being ready... the stress, and the fabric stash are both growing. Bought these yesterday...

Batiks for Kayaking on the Lake...
This one is my favorite
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_2009.jpg[/img]
Cool waves in this one--or maybe they're ripples from the paddle. :lol:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_2010.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_2011.jpg[/img]

And this piece was sitting on a sale pile just calling to me--I love it!!

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_2008.jpg[/img]
Connecting Threads stuff. It's good quality, but they are all solid on the back--kind of different.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1991.jpg[/img]

And there are several pieces arriving any day from ebay... :oops: I'm, ah, feeling much better now. :wink:

So--what do you all do for backs? Do you tend to piece them, or head for the extra wide fabrics?

I'm headed to cut up those new batiks...and to call my quilter. :D

Jim's Gem

You have some pretty fabrics there. I like your pansy fabric, but I am a fan of purples. I like the first and second batiks for your lake quilt and that floral you got on sale looks delish!!
I know how you feel about buying fabrics, it just does something good for the soul!!!

For my backs I usually try to find sale fabrics for $5 and under a yard and but 7 - 15 yards depending on fabric and price. I was able to get a ton of large pieces of fabrics from a store that recently went out of business. They used to have sales on holidays for $l a yard then $1.69 a yard. I have at least 60 pieces large enough to use for backings, in a range of colors and styles. I can usually find one of those to use on almost any quilt. They are all "regular" 44" width fabrics

Sometimes I will piece with leftover pieces as well or make a strip down the back with leftover blocks and such.

I am much more into piecing the tops as well!!! (that's why I have a lot of UFO's hanging around) I quilt mine myself, on my regular machine. I have not sent one out to be done, yet.

b.zang

Oh, I so can relate to wanting the project to end with the front but since I am determined to not have UFOs around, I push on to the end. Therefore, backs are often pieced since I've scrounged around in my stash to find something appropriate. I have learned to stick with piecing that runs off the edges, though. Once I pieced huge squares, but then centering the front on those squares was a nightmare. I always keep in mind that just because there is a front and a back doesn't mean that the quilt will always fall front side up so I want the back to also be something I like. I'm happiest when the back is all the same fabric. :-)

Shemjo

I like the backs to be interesting, so I often piece them. When we quilt for others at church, we use extra wide unbleached muslin unless they bring their own fabric for the backs. It is my joy to see pretty interesting fabrics on the back, but since we handquilt, I prefer the whole 108 inch backing with no seams.

Janstar

Beautiful fabric Karla!!

amma

Oooooo I love all of the fabric purchases :D :D :D
I like you pieced backs too!!!

Mousie

I like pieced backings, whole backings...., I just love fabric, and any excuse to buy it! :D

sewjoyce

Wow -- you have some gorgeous fabric there!!!

Sometimes I piece backings but I don't really like to do it -- especially with different fabric. More work and then it looks wonky if the seams are straight, etc. after quilting. On the 120" sq. quilt I made for my daughter, I used several different fabrics for the backing as I couldn't find anything to buy that was big enough. Took me frigging forever to get it right..... :evil: :D :D

tlrnhi

Ummm....what was the question?
I'm still drooling over the fabric!
Somehow got sidetracked from whatever the question was......Oh! Shiny! lol

I love the pansy and there's a corner showing in the fall fabrics that has a flower on it. That one looks pretty too!

Um, what was the question again?

littlehud

Pretty fabrics. I like to use wide fabric for backing, but quite often end up piecing it.