Help! Not enough backing fabric!
08-21-2012, 03:49 AM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 674
I normally don't purchase fabric.. the only fabric I buy is backing and I usually buy the very wide fabric, and when I don't, my fabric store figures out how much i need and that's what I buy and they are always spot on!
However, I was at a Discount Foam and Fabric store and found some $1 fabric that I thought "would do" for this big quilt. They didn't know how to figure out how much I needed and neither did I, so I bought what I thought was enough. Obviously, it's not! If I cut it into 3 pieces, and sew them together, it's too short, but there is excess on the sides.
I'm not in love with the quilt top or the backing fabric, so I kinda want to use it for this quilt. It's a purple/pink with little flowers on it and the top is pink and white, so they don't even really match. I don't think I can do the diagonal pieced back method, since this quilt top is so wide.
Other than taking a row off the quilt top (I'm willing, but I'd like to see if there's anything else I can do), is there any easy way to make it work without looking too bad?
However, I was at a Discount Foam and Fabric store and found some $1 fabric that I thought "would do" for this big quilt. They didn't know how to figure out how much I needed and neither did I, so I bought what I thought was enough. Obviously, it's not! If I cut it into 3 pieces, and sew them together, it's too short, but there is excess on the sides.
I'm not in love with the quilt top or the backing fabric, so I kinda want to use it for this quilt. It's a purple/pink with little flowers on it and the top is pink and white, so they don't even really match. I don't think I can do the diagonal pieced back method, since this quilt top is so wide.
Other than taking a row off the quilt top (I'm willing, but I'd like to see if there's anything else I can do), is there any easy way to make it work without looking too bad?
Good luck
08-21-2012, 04:17 AM
#32
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 16
I have used John Flynn's diagonal-pieced back and it works really well once you do the math. Check his site for details.
http://www.flynnquilt.com/workshop/FreeLessons/
http://www.flynnquilt.com/workshop/FreeLessons/
08-21-2012, 04:28 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 357
Sometimes when I am using a special fabric on the back, like a flannel with print
that goes with the theme of the front, but it is not wide enough and dont want to pay for another 2 and a half yards, I choose another fabric that blends with that piece, usually a solid, and get just enough to cut it width length, piece it, and sew the strip in between the two pieces of my special backing fabric. It looks planned with a strip down the middle and saves a lot in purchasing fabric.
that goes with the theme of the front, but it is not wide enough and dont want to pay for another 2 and a half yards, I choose another fabric that blends with that piece, usually a solid, and get just enough to cut it width length, piece it, and sew the strip in between the two pieces of my special backing fabric. It looks planned with a strip down the middle and saves a lot in purchasing fabric.
08-21-2012, 07:49 PM
#38
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 97
I had this problem once. I went back to the store and bought more of what i thought was the same fabric. It turned out to be a slightly different color. Different "dye lot" I suppose. I was extremely upset but ended up using two strips of the new fabric on the sides of the backing. Very painful at the time but now it's one of my favorite backings. It's interesting to throw in a little variation in the back. I may do it again on purpose!
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