Need Help With Diagonal Pieced Backing
 

I read a post in the last week or so about someone that pieced their backings with a diagonal strip inset and I really liked that idea. The picture shows my result. How do I make the strip I cut in half come out even instead of offset like this. I am going to go ahead and use this on a scrap quilt I have just done, but would like to know how to measure to make it come out even. Thanks to anyone who can help me.

That is pretty. it looks good to me. joyce j

I like the offset look

This isn't exactly what you are looking for. It's the Flynn method for making a diagonal pieced back. Maybe after you cut the fabric on the diagonal you can add a strip before rejoining the pieces? He gives calculations for fabric amounts.
http://www.flynnquilt.com/workshop/FreeLessons/

i don't know the answer to your question, but i feel that the way you've already done it is just fine!

I don't think you can, unless you have *lots* of fabric. One basic step in diagonal pieced backings is - you cut the diagonal and then slide one half up (or down) to gain the width. This will automatically offset any cross-pieces in your backing. I think the only way to get the effect you wanted would have been to cut the check fabric on the angle. Place the other fabrics, and carefully measure where to put the orange on each half of the check. Then sew all the bits together. It probably still wouldn't be perfect, but you could get close.

In the future - I'd go with just one direction of diagonals. Then you won't have this problem.

To Kristakz: Thanks for your suggestions. I didn't know how to measure so I had to cut it in two again to get the correct width! Maybe I will play with some paper cutouts for a while.

Maybe this will help with future calculations for diagonal piecing - I wrote a tutorial a few months ago http://kristaquilts.blogspot.ca/2012...d-backing.html

Doesn't address the double cross however.

I used the diagonal piecing method for the first time and it worked out great. I liked that this site has a calculator to determine how much fabric you need as my old brain is completely math-challenged lately. http://www.multi-patch.com/html/fabric_calc.php Just make sure when you cut off the "ears" that you open the fabric up completely before cutting ~ ask me how I know!! :o

I still don't have the hang of this. I used John's calculator and it came out needing more fabric than I'd I did it the regular way.

The problem causing the offset is that your diagonal is not centered to the bisecting line of the two brown triangles. You need to measure how long your brown triangles need to be on a flat side (not the center diagonal side). Then you want to subtract the distance from the edge of the orange strip piece to its center, along a 45 degree angle. Cut a large square of your brown material with the measurements you just calculated. Then cut it in half along both diagonals. Sew your orange strip to both quarters in each half, leaving enough extra in the corner to square it (the orange strip will end with a point in the corner and the brown pieces will not go to the corner). Then they'll match in the middle, unless the quilt back isn't square. The offset will still be there if that back isn't square because the angle of the bisectors (of the triangles) will be flipped (on the other side) with respect to the diagonal from corner to corner. If you draw a line from the corners, your orange strips are the same distance off the diagonal, just on different sides.

Sorry that was so long. I hope it made a little sense!

Diagonal piecing is only efficient if your quilt is less than 50% wider than your backing. any more than that, and you are better off with straight piecing. So a 60" quilt, for 40" backing. In fact, I would say even less - I'd only go up to about 50" wide for diagonal piecing - those big triangles cut off feel wasteful to me, and I'd rather have long strips I can use for a future quilt.