renee765

If it's a lap quilt, throw quilt, or bed quilt, I try to be creative with the backing. I usually have one fabric that I'll use. I haven't pieced any together yet, but I'm sure I will in the future.

On the other hand, for wall hangings, table toppers, etc. I always use muslin. Unless someone turns the table topper over, no one is going to be gazing on the quilting stitches on the back. That way I save good fabric for another use.

debbieumphress

I used to make the backings perfectly match the front or at least nicely compliment it. Then I went to a class and she had quilts she used the leftover fabric from the front in odd sized squares,e tc. Came out really nice. Or if you demand excellance you can make even blocks etc. And then the show quilts....Last year I pieced the back to match the front and actually passes the scrutiny of the judges and still got a check+. Whatever trips our triggers, I guess

JJs

I use either wide fabric, pieced one fabric (say 5 yards of one fabric), or horrors - a sheet...
I had a woman say to me, "The back should be as good as the front - think about it, what gets the most WEAR - the front or back?".... she's right, the back is what gets the most wear...
I try to co-ordinate the front and back with regard to color and if I use a floral print (or other print) it 'goes with' what's on front - I don't want anything jarring, or incongruous... or slapdash...

CarrieAnne

I try to make it look nice, all matching, but it really doesnt have tobe all the same fabric. My stuff isnt for judging either. When I do a charity quilt, I usually use a cotton sheet for the back...love it, because its always big enough!

hazeljane

I mostly use sheets. I know, the quilt police don't approve, but they wear like iron and I don't hand quilt. Even if I have a large enough sheet, however, I usually at the very least create an off center stripe on the back with scraps from the front. Just a little signature thing. Some quilts I just use the whole sheet. And sometimes I have to make the stripe because I'm using scraps from other sheets I've used for backs.

fabric-holic

That's true. I never gave it any thought. But I have to say the quilts we had as kids never fell apart, even with the pieced backings.

craftybear

wow, thanks for the comments on this thread, I learn something new every day

bearisgray

It might look more interesting if you made two rows of squares and put one on each side - backing-squares-backing-squares-backing

Of just offset them to one side. wide section-squares-narrow section

Some of the more interesting backs are pieced.

I am, however, "fussy" about having it be flat and pressing it before using it.

dkabasketlady

I use whatever I have on hand for the backing, but I do like to coordinate with the front. Some are pieced, some aren't, some are reversible and some are just muslin!

misoop

I just finished one, piecing the back with the left-over fabrics from the quilt top, my first time to do this. But, I recently joined a quilt club with very accomplished quilters (not me), but they had done this on several quilts that they brought for "show and tell." I'm sure they don't do this with quilts that are to be judged. But some of them are very cute the way they arrange the leftovers. Lots of creativity in that club!!