Help Making Quilt Kits for Vacation
 

My friend will be vacationing in Florida in March and April. She want to make quilt kits so she can produce tops while she has more time than usual. My thought was to pick backing first then choose the pattern next and the fabric last. Does anyone have suggestions how to do this?

Why pick backing first? I would think picking what she wants to make, i. e., bed, lap quilt, tablerunner, wall hanging, etc. Then decide on pattern(s), then fabric, and finally either good grade muslin, or expensive fabric for backing. I guess you can surmize I use muslin for most things I do.....just my personal choice. Jmho

If her intention is produce tops, don't worry about the backing until the top is finished. Choose the pattern, or a focus fabric then the pattern, fabrics, then start cutting the pieces. If she plans on quilting them while down there then by all means pack the backing and batting as well. But I have never started a quilt by choosing the backing first (although sometimes one of the fabrics I use in the top is also used for the backing, at which time I already have the pattern and top fabrics chosen then I just buy MORE of the backing fabric).

If she is not going to do the quilting on vacation, and she is not going to use a fabric from the top for the backing, I would wait with it. But if she is going to use a fabric from the top, I would get the backing when you buy the fabric, otherwise it might not be available when you go to buy it later. Muslin is a good choice and can be purchased almost anywhere, anytime.
But I agree, decide what first (lap, queen, wall hanging...), then pattern, then fabric. Cut the big pieces of fabric down to manageable size that makes sense for the pattern (I try to avoid having to deal with yardage in kits)
Mike

I'm also in agreement that I always choose the backing last, however, I'm usually not very concerned with the backing closely coordinating with the top. As DogHOuseMom mentioned, I will sometimes use one of the top fabrics.
When I'm on vacation, I don't want to tax my brain too much. I would choose patterns I was familiar with, or maybe do the same pattern in a couple different color ways. If transportation is available, I would also consider fabric shopping while down there. A quilt top with fabric purchased on vacation is a great souvenir. She could also look for backing fabric!

There are sellers on Ebay that have laser cut kits ready to sew. That would be a quick way to get started sewing. Jordan's Fabrics have Quilt store grade fabric in their precut kits. https://jordanfabrics.com/

If she likes handwork, hexagons are mostly hand sewn and could be an interesting project. When I travel, I like to do Judy Niemeyer quilts. Not being at home helps me concentrate. Judy's instructions tells you how to precut all the different parts and put into different bags, then you start sewing to the actual paper piecing patterns. She will end up with a spectacular quilt. This is only a good idea if she already knows something about paper piecing. http://www.quiltworx.com/

When I go on vacation I kit up blocks into little baggies and take a copy of the pattern with me. In 2012 I stitched this full scrappy star quilt just doing one star at a time in each place where we camped. I only had to take my FW with a couple thread spools, one June Tailor cut and press, small travel iron, rotary cutter and 6 x 12" ruler and snips. (I think) [ATTACH=CONFIG]586767[/ATTACH] When I came home I sandwiched and quilted it for a comfort quilt. Not sure if this helps or not.... and usually the backing is chosen last.

I always pick backing last in fact I just had a quilt quilted over the summer that took me 3 years to finish piecing and I purchased backing right before I had it quilted. I usually find a fabric line I like and dig through my many patterns and go buy the fabric for the top

Love this quilt. The colors are beautiful and everything comes together so nicely!!! Thanks for sharing.