Hi-- I want to make a disappearing nine patch for my backing --- my top is 85.5 x 90"-- how large would you suggest making my 9 unit squares ? Don't want to spend a whole lot of time on this- but wanted to make the quilt reversable. Thanks

Having both the top and the backing pieced can make quilting difficult.

Oh-- I didn't know that-- then perhaps I'll just go ahead and make a standard back-- thanks

It's also a bit of a challenge to get both layers to line up "exactly"

You gave us the top measurement only. What pattern did you use?
I did what you are suggesting once and didn't actually quilt it, I tied it instead. Turned out quite nice, as I used a high loft polyfil, so it is one of those cuddle up, fluffy type quilts. Besides that, it took such a short time to tie it (queen sized) as you can tie it at random 8 to 10 inches apart.

from a longarmers point of view, a pieced backing does make it hard to quilt. Keeping things straight from side to side isnt too bad, but its almost impossible to align top and bottom so that it comes out even.

This is good to know. I need to back off with my "creative" backings.

Ive had quilts come in with backings made from fat quarter size scrap pieces and that works fine........ mainly because its not a 'set pattern'.
Enjoy your quilting!

Don't back off! It's a great idea, and can be done. Just make it a little oversized for the extra around the back instead of trying to add borders to make it oversized for that. then there is not so much lining up to do. you will lose a bit of the design around the outside, but with a d9p that is not going to be such a big deal and you will have a beautiful reversible quilt!

All my backs are pieced. "Creatively." ;-) Never had a problem.

And as long as you're not trying to "exactly" duplicate the setting on the front, then you don't have to worry about "matching" up.

But if you leave enough room for your design/layout on the back to float a bit, any longarmer should be able to make it work. And if they can't, find a new longarmer.

I have double pieced all 10 quilts I have made. I just pick the side I want as my front and have my quilter go from there. It has not been a problem and sometimes we end up liking the back side better. I do it because I have so much to learn and since I have to buy the fabric anyways for the back, I might as well be learning from it.

Go for it!

If it's a large D9P block, it shouldn't be too much of a problem and I agree that the pattern is random enough looking that if you end up chopping off the top or bottom a little it will still look good.

Well if you do an all over meander it would look good on both sides.

That is what I usually have done, since meandering is my favorite. I have even had Christmas trees done on my Christmas one, and it was fine.

My nightmares: having a back slip as I quilt.. has happened.. very very sad..

hmmm... good luck !

I think part of the answer depends on what pattern you have on the top. If it's something that you want to meander all over, then the quilting will look good on both sides. If it's something that will have very stylized quilting, then maybe not so much, but still it might not be a problem. If you can show us the top we might have better recommendations.

I have pieced many of my quilt backs, and quilted them both on the DSM and on the longarm with no problems - but I don't use patterns on the back that require matching up, and the pieces on the back are generally much larger than those on the front. I like to get rid of as many scraps as possible on the back, so they don't stick around to haunt me. Of course some quilt tops just don't call for pieced backs (it's their loss).

I love to do some piecing on the back. What I do it make sure I have a good size boarder so it doesn't matter where the final trim is. good luck