This maybe a silly question, but looking at alot of quilts I see that the backing is plain with maybe on section of fabric from the of the quilt. Is there a reason for this or is this a new fad? I have always used just a plain backing and I am just curious!

I do plain backings also, but unless you purchase extra wide fabric, it must be pieced. Many folks use this as an opportunity to show some artistic style on the back. I think they look great and maybe someday will make one that way too.

I try to stretch whatever I have on hand rather than buy more fabric for the backing. Sometimes that means I use some leftover fabric or blocks from the front to get enough yardage for the backing.

I usually do a plain or one fabric back but the last quilt I did I mis measured and had to piece it. So I got creative, I like the out come.

According to my quilt class instructor, a quilt entered in a contest such as at the fair, should have all on fabric on the back. It can be pieced because it isn't wide enough but all the same, and not seamed down the middle.

i prefer hand dyed wide back fabric.

this way the top of the quilt looks like a pieced quilt and the back looks like a whole cloth quilt.

i also use many colored threads when i quilt so the whole cloth side looks really nice with each design in a different color thread.

Granny Quilter: I disagree with your quilt class instructor. I'm a judge and I don't judge the back other than if pieced it is well done and not crooked. I don't know everything, but I don't know of a single show that had criteria for the back. Some recent quilters do very fancy stuff on the back but that is irrevelent to the top.
So I think your quilt class instructor is giving a personal opinion. Perhaps there are local fairs that require this but not in my 100's of judging experience. We look at the back to see if the back stitching is well done and may say "how clever to piece the back" but that's it.

I use a print or coordinating fabric for the back of a lap quilt because both sides are often showing. For a bed quilt or wall hanging, I will use anything I think will last as long as the quilt. Plain colored or even white is fine.

Ive seen many creative backings. We call it back art!

It is fun to see some creative piecing on the backs of quilts! No rules (only in this instance) just right! :-)

i piece most of my backings- seldom use a (solid)...is that what you are refering to as 'plain'?
many times the back of my quilts look like a whole different quilt-
if i don't want to piece a back i tend to purchase 108" wide fabrics- still not 'plain'- usually a great print that will compliment the top.
once in a great while i will make a quilt that needs a muslin back- that's about the only time i use (plain)
just the way i do it- everyone does them the way they like-and i think it depends on location- and who taught you in the first place- i was taught to use as much as i have---and not shop for every little thing- if i can put together a good looking back for a quilt with scraps- i do.
and prints will hide any (flaws) in your quilting too- solids tend to show every stitch.

Your quilt. Your front. Your back.
I've done "back art" on mine for decades!
There's something really efficient about thinking of a quilt as having two sides and being two quilts, in my opinion. :-D

Jan in VA

My first one I pieced, but all the same fabric, and because it wasn't big enough. I did it in thirds so the seam wouldn't be in the middle, because people tend to fold in the middle and a seam is a weak place to be folding. My second one I pieced mine with leftovers from the front. Gave it a little more interest and character.

My aim is to have fabric on the back so I can sandwich it and start quilting. At first I use the main fabric from the front for the back, found I usually needed lots of fabric, now I don't worry if it doesn't match the front. I suppose it could be considered a double sided quilt.

Typically I use a plain backing that is made with either three panels (tube method) or the diagonal John Flynn method of piecing.

I have used extra units from the front of a quilt a couple of times.

Have to say that I don't care for the "scrappy" backs. Like the ones that have something in common with the front. That's my 2 cents!

Mine kind of depends on what I have on hand a the time. Lots of my quilts are scraps left from other quilts or even clothers. I don't tend to buy a lot of batting but reuse old sheets for the batting and backing. Make do, reuse, do without.

If I hand quilt... I use a plain back. All the beautiful quilting shows up better.

If I machine quilt, I often use a patterned back.... even pieces of coordinating fabric.

Personal preference, running out of fabric, using up stash :D:D:D

Wow, lots of ideas for the back. I think in the beginning, I was so relieved to get the top done, I just used plain backing to get it finished faster...no additional effort on designing the back. I would just try to find a good deal on fabric that would make a neutral but interesting print on the back. That worked out well because my quilts ended up more as fabric art that hung on a wall. I think now that I see more "back art", I would consider putting more effort on the back if I knew the quilt was going to be used on a bed or lap.

Appreciate all the ideas you guys have though.

The plain homespun is cheaper than the quilting fabric by a minimum of $10 per metre and therefore, more cost - effective to have a plain back. I do have a more colourful backing only when I have managed to buy the quilting fabric at a cheaper price. When the fabric is $26 a metre it is a real luxury to have the 'good' fabric hidden on the back.

I concur with Jan. I've done backs all different ways-just depends on the use, who it's for, etc. We quilters are creative & we love to "re-purpose" which I always keep in mind.

I usually use a single wide fabric, although while I was on a "use it up" binge, I did piece a backing for a baby quilt. I would have had to make a run to the fabric store otherwise. You do what you gotta do!!

Very nice! Looks good

I think this is a good way to stretch fabric. I only bought 4 yards of backing for a quilt I want to do and worried if I had enough. I know I have plenty of the material I'm using for the front so I'll add some squares to the back to stretch the 4 yards.

Is this found in most fabric stores? The hand dyed wide back fabric, that is.

I think we all do our own thing. I did my first pieced back when I was trying to "stretch" my backing to fit a bigger quilt top. I just plain needed it to be bigger. Then I sorta liked the "somewhat" pieced interesting look I came up with that coordinated with the front, and did it on several more. It's "2 quilts for the price of one" this way, although I never make my backs as showy as the front.

I believe that there is no wrong or right way to finish the back of a quilt. We use what is most available to us, piecing, wide fabric or sheets if one so desires. The idea is to finish what we started, don't let anyone tell you how it MUST be done, do what you like. I myself like wide backings because I have pieced the front and don't want to piece anymore, I want to see my finished project.

I don't do judging, but I agree about the back and it being your instructors personal opinion. Think about what side you see when you pull a quilt over you - especially a lap quilt where you don't have a sheet. THE BACK! I've done a lot of pieced backs and I think they are so much more fun than a plain back. Like getting 2 quilts in one!

My personal peference is if it's not a secondary design that looks well thought out I don't care for pieced backs. If I have to seam the back (which 99% of mine are) I prefer one fabric; not a hodge podge.

Love the way you pieced it.. I recently had to piece one but was not as clever as yours...

Years ago the quilt that won best of show in Padacuh had a pieced back that was almost as striking as the front. This was entered by a man, but for the life of me I can't remember his name. Holice might remember who he is. The theme was airplanes. The 1st time I saw this quilt I was thinking "Wow, what a great quilt!" Then I discovered that I was looking at the back. LOL It sounds like this was either this woman's personal opinion, or she had been told that by someone she considered to be an expert so she believed it with no question.

I had used fabric that I pieced together. Such as an American quilt I made for my DD. I had red,white, and blue. DH helped me so that the seams were even. I found wide backing and have since switched. Seems easier to work with

I think the back should coordinate colorwise in some form- no sheets or muslin, seaming is okay as long as it's done properly. I just hate to see a beautiful quilt top, then flip it over and the colors don't flow at all.

I like pieced back ..I make 2 tops and sandwich them.
If you don't like one side turn it over.
ssuzz

I usually buy co-ordinating fabric for the back when I buy fabric for the front. I like the way it flows.

I love to use up the leftover fabrics from the top on the back. It's cost effective and just makes sense to me. I don't love saving leftover scraps that I probably won't use in another quilt project. I don't always make a design, but try to use similar sized pieces. Sometimes I have enough for the middle of the back and then I add a coordinating (almost solid) around the edges to make the back large enough for the top.

For me, back art is a way to keep from buying more fabric to make the back big enough. I never plan it in advance, but if my back is too small I will try to figure an attractive way to add blocks or strips left over from the front in order to make it large enough. I normally buy a little extra for piecing anyway, so this makes good use of it.

One time at a quilt show vender I found some pre-printed log cabin fabric and when I used it for the backing of my quilt it was striking and as pretty as the front. That was fun.

Why should the back be the poor sister? I love making them just as attractive, though simpler, than the front

It depends on the use of the quilt for me. I use muslin for backs of wallhangings as they are not likely to be seen, and some colors of fabrics when in humid environments can leave a color tint to the wall if left there ong enough. (Yes, I have found some banners at churches that have done that, and especially when men think they can nail the banners directly on the wall!)
If I am giving a baby quilt, I usually use flannel in the same color family or theme as the front. i use backing fabrics of tone on tone prints alot for bigger quilts.
I think the back needs to be pretty also, but that can be scrappy or not.