Choosing a backing when I can't match original fabric?
 

https://imgur.com/3zvbFPFI'm in the final stage of assembling a quilt (photo attached, don't mind the truncated points, I'm kind of new at this!). I'm now realizing that I won't have enough of the main solid fabric to make the backing as planned. Problem is, I can't for the life of me remember where I got it! Been through every receipt and order summary and I can't find it. The "triangle" fabrics were from the remnant bin. In normal times I would take a swatch to the fabric store and see if I can find the same color, but of course it's not clear when that will be an option. I find that blue and green colors are pretty tough to match from the computer screen. Should I put this one in the WIP pile til I can shop in-store? Would it look okay with some sort of neutral color, maybe gray or navy? Thoughts appreciated.

I agree using a print fabric on the back. It will compliment the solids on the front. You should easily be able to find fabric with the tones of blues you have in the front. You don't have to have but one of the blue colors in the print to have it work well.

There is no rule that says you have to use the same fabrics front and back. 😉 I agree with choosing a print for the back; if you select a busy print it will be harder to see any wobbles and goofs in the quilting.

I try to find in my stash something I like with the front fabrics. Or I pick a tan. off white or something that will go with both sides.

I hardly ever use a backing fabric that is the same as one on the front. I hate piecing backings (don’t judge), so I almost always find a wide back fabric that coordinates. There are lots of mottled prints that goes with a wide variety of fabric.

I agree with the others. You could find a lovely print to coordinate with it. I don't think I've ever matched the front and back.

I also use different backings that coordinate. Go for it!!

If you have enough fabric to bind the quilt that matches the front I wouldn't worry about the back matching the front. I usually like the wider fabrics too for the backing, so my concern with the back is that it coordinates with the binding. Since I like to see the quilting, sometimes I put the quilt with the backside up.

Since the triangles all all different colors, i think the back could be any cool blue/green color.

Wow, I'm the one dissenting voice! I'm kind of a color freak, and feel the need to be sure the front and back are 'compatible'...as in, I would easily use the shade/color on the front. I agree though, using a print on the back (non directional so I don't screw it up!) is very forgiving. I also think a lovely warm tan/golden would be gorgeous with this! I love the top, oksand!

My concern is finding something that includes the same shade when ordering online... maybe I'm being too fussy!

Haha, good to know! This is only my 4th quilt so I wasn't sure if that was a big faux pas.

I love the back to be a surprise. A color pop, maybe some extra piecing, or an unobstructed view of the quilting. Definitely don't worry about matching colors, IMO!

I think it’s nice when the back coordinates with the front, but we don’t do every quilt that way. I think a bright fuchsia, coral, or tangerine print would be a fantastic finish to this quilt. Think “Tropical Paradise.” I definitely think you should go with entangled on this one.

I’ve never used coordinating backing on a quilt. I look for either a backing with the same colors or complementary colors. That way they’ve got a two-sided quilt!

As long as the binding works well with the back, I usually use a different fabric for the back.

I never choose a backing fabric that is the same in the top. I choose patterned fabric whose colors compliment the top.

For me it depends on what the quilt was made for............a gift or utility. If a gift I usually try to buy the backing when I acquire the fabrics for the front or if I've pulled them from my stash then I start to look for the backing right away. Luckily I have some extra backings in my stash and have decided for all 12 quilts which backing I'll use when I get my mojo back. As I've placed myself on a "NO BUYING" fabric since Nov 2018 I've done quilt well. Having no sewing mojo helps too but need to get busy again now that things have slowed down outside in the gardens.

As to your quilt I was think a grey if not too dark would look okay or even a creme if that's what I'm seeing in your quilt.

One other thing that I almost always do is my binding has to be the same as my outer border. The exception is if I made a child/baby quilt. I don’t want someone's eye centered on the binding. I want the first thing they see is the quilt pattern, fabrics that I choose, and the quilting.

Thanks for that "No Rule" lesson. I would grab a color wheel and find a complimentary or coordinating color for the back. Then if you have a guest that hates the front color, you can flip it over and have a different quilt on the bed.

I have really grown attached to the idea of "two sided" quilts, and/or more action on the back. The way I work I usually have a few orphan blocks or fabrics that didn't make it into the top (usually because of a large scale print) and more and more I've been incorporating those into the back.

Some of my backs are pretty wild, because they were bought at the thrift store mostly because they were big enough... but it's a great place to use wild fabrics and large scale prints.

I'm also trying really hard to use up stash, and "pieces big enough for backs" is not my strong point. I do, however, have a lot of 3-yard pieces where I can piece two of those into back.

For your quilt, I'd be looking at something with maybe a white background and something swirly (paisley? flower outlines?? butterflies??) in blues and aqua and teal. Or could could go with geometric designs.

A print with blue green would do, though with the angles in the front, I wouldn't choose a floral. You can piece the back with what fabric you do have from the front and just add the print. For some reason, I piece most of my back vertically - even if I use wide backing, I cut it.

First, I really like your quilt top. It looks like the ocean to me...very pretty!

I love a contrasting color for the back. If it were me, I'd pick something earthy to go with a natural, watery theme. The colors of stones, tree bark, bright, yellow sun would be my suggestions.

Makes sense. I definitely have enough of my main color for binding.

I'm more drawn to geometric shapes anyway so this makes sense. I'm thinking I might use a few strips of my main color with an additional fabric.

I'm going to agree with Iceblossom, anything with swirls and loops in a green/blue would be very good. It's a very pretty quilt, good job!

Good point to bring up. I do the same. I don't want the binding to be the focal point. A couple of times I've used stripes though and that was cute! (especially on the diagonal.)

ummm....I like good quality fabric but it is hard to pay full price for the fabric on the back.....so what I have done in the past is to look through the fabric on the sale rack in the quilt shops....it was fairly often that I could find a bolt with enough fabric for a backing for 50% or more off....I would buy it if I thought it would make a good backing for something....so...I have a shelf of baking fabrics and can usually find something that I like...and there have been times when I shopped in my "bargin bin" that the backing I found was just the thing to use....other times I find a backing that "will work". Most of the time, I use my quilts right side up, but I have a flannel one that is really bright intense primary colors....for the backing I had purchased a medium brown backing with penguins on it that had pops of bright colors on their little scarfs and hats....and I have used the quilt bottom up a few times....I got that good flannel backing for $4 a yard...It normally sold for $12. I am satisfied. Oh,and that particular fabric I bought online as I was looking for flannel to use as backing on my scrap flannel quilts as I was trying to use up my flannel scraps...I also ended up with 21 yards of a medium gray flannel that I will use too...for that I paid about $4 and I got enough that I also got the quantity discount and free shipping. .I ended up making about 10 quilts of different sizes...it was fun.

I think a backing fabric with the colors in it that would match some what to your front would be fine.

My backings never match the front. Once quilted they are a whole new quilt . Any print that is a blue would be lovely. Or Gray, cream, .... maybe something wavy.