QUOTE from Sewnoma:I like scrappy backs too...my rule of thumb is that if I have to piece a back out of 45" fabric anyway, I'm usually going to throw something interesting into that seam, especially if it's a scrappy quilt (which most of mine are). A row of blocks using fabric from the front, or a strip of left over border fabric...whatever gets in the way gets thrown into that spot. And then sometimes I get a bug and decide to slice through the back again going in another direction and add another strip of "whatever". Kinda depends on how much I like the backing fabric, how much front-fabric I have left, what sort of mood I'm in, and how much of a hurry I'm in!
If I pressed my seams open that would probably be less of a problem but I'm far too lazy for that.[/QUOTE]
I've been making a lot of scrappy backs. What better way is there to get rid of some of that fabric that has been hanging around forever? If the front is scrappy, the more different pieces you use in the back, the less it matters what color they are.
My new idea I just thought of: If you have a piece of fabric that coordinates with the front (long enough or wide enough but not both), fold it on the diagonal from corner to corner, but not exactly in the corner, leave an inch or two, and cut off 1/16th or less from that fold. Just to get the fold off. Place the two diagonal pieces on opposite corners, and you have a straight blank space to fill in. Take another piece that is wide enough to fit that space (but it doesn't have to be long enough), and cut on the diagonal through the center to match the diagonal on top or bottom. Place one of these on the top and the other on the bottom. Now fill in the space you have left with anything. One piece or several. Pieced in a pattern or just fabrics to fit. I can't wait to try this.
Last edited by maviskw; 05-15-2014 at 05:48 AM.