I have just completed a Twinkling Stars quilt top. Stars are various reds set on various shades of beiges and tan squares. Now, I can't decide on the backing. Or on the quilting that I will have done. Just wondering what/if any criteria do you use when making this decision. I am stumped!

I always like my backing to match or blend with the front. That way I get two quilts for the price of one.

I don't necessarly choose a fab that goes with the quilt, my go to is fairy frost there is a 3 tone in a few colors that my family loves, other than that I like something soft minkey or a flannel when possible as for the quilting, I let my laq choose it for me she knows best and is excellent unless i want a tight meandering, I don't like a wide meandering. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I always use a fabric from the front...which ever one I liked best.

Most of my backings are from fabric in my stash. I have one section just for backings. I also coordinate it to match the front but I don't think you have to or else type of thing.
I've also pieced backings and it's fun! You get another design to look at.
I like to buy extra wide backings on sale so I don't have a long seam to deal with but I have done that too.
Don't any any tips on quilting b/c I'm practicing FMQ right now.
Good luck! :D:D

I usually by backing to match the color of thread you are going to use to machine quilt it. I would us the cream colors for backing on this if use cream thread for quilting. It is a lot easier for a longarmer, then you don't see pokies from your bobbin thread.

I hope this works! Here's a pic of your quilt with some quilting ideas on it. You could do an overall fill design in the beige blocks - that would really make your stars "pop." Or, if you used a flower-like design (as shown) in the center of the star, you could carry that design into the beige blocks.

For backing - that's totally your choice. Sometimes I choose a fabric that plays nicely with the front - same color scheme, for instance. Other times, I go with something radically different. In this case, I'd probably try to find something that had both beige and red in it - a toile would be nice.

If I don't find a print that works well with the front, I use solid Kona cotton in a color from the front.

First of all, FABULOUS quilt.

It that were my quilt - this is the way I would make the decision:

This quilt is not about the quilting, it's about the fabulous lines and the collection of tan/reds that make it up.
So, right off the bat, in this case, I wouldn't need/have to have a solid/TOT fabric on the back to showcase intense detailed quilting - which isn't really called for here.

I like to have a surprise on the back. I normally piece the backs from, admittedly a huge stash. I like the variety. I try to do something interesting for the top 20 inches of the back - what I call the "turn-down." Especially if it's a bed quilt, even for a guest room. That's the only part of the back that's really ever going to be seen. Then the rest of the back can be yardage or more piecing. I'm rarely concerned about it. Of course, all fabric is LQS quality.

When I do got out and actually buy specific yardage for a quilt, it's usually because it's a great fit. Which for means a great contrast. IOW, I've already got a great front with great fabrics - why do I have to repeat that on the back?

In the case of your quilt, it has a real vintage feel to it (at least to me).
If I were going to buy fabric, I'd get something like these (hard to match up exactly so it's more the idea than the exact fabric):

http://www.cowgirl-upquilts.com/cgi-...&pid=1#2630_13

http://www.quiltexpressions.com/cgi-...&pid=1#1354711

http://www.penningtonquilts.com/cgi-...&pid=1#10-4366

The larger scale of these prints contrast nicely (to me) with the repeated angle geometric shapes on the front.

Sort of like you might do in your living room - different fabrics for the sofa and chair, with a little zing here and there. If you bothered with that sort of stuff.

If you go the "turn-down" route, an interesting option would be make a panel across the top of the back of TAN stars with a RED background. That would also look great.

And the rest of the backing can be whatever you got.

It's a great quilt no matter what you put on the back.

Edited to add after reading the previous post by EIQuilter:

A toile would be awesome. :thumbup:
http://www.cindysquiltshop.com/cgi-b...ldn13530-26-nt

http://www.lotsofabric.com/cgi-bin/S...8&pid=1#img128

If it's for "special" as in a gift or a raffle prize donation, I put a complimentary fabric on the back or tone on tone something or other. If it's for general use bed quilt, I use good quality muslin. No sense spending a lot of money on fabric for the back of a bed quilt that will only be used one side up!! IMHO. That's what I do.

I hope this picture turns out. I just took a class for my computerized machine. The picture is of one pattern, set 2 ways to make a block. In a quilt like this you can set a block every other one, and have a great look.
Here is the website if the pic doesn't show up.

http://www.mountaintopquilting.com/b...prises-abound/

I will generally choose a backing that coordinates with the front, not necessarily matchy matchy, but one that will really showcase the quilting on the back as well as the front, thus having two quilts in one...

I would go with a backing that compliments either the quilting that you are going to do, or the fabric on the front but then again it is up to you. I think that a nice red print would look wonderful, especially if you are able to get it in a backing size. but again it is up to you.

Sometimes I use one of the colors from the front - but lately I have been using muslin - also picked up a bamboo/cotton blend - that is super soft - really liking using those for the back and much cheaper also.

i would go with a cafe ole' color.

I try to match it to the binding.

I most often use a sheet for quilt backings as I always machine quilt and sheets really keep the cost down as most quilting fabric in Canada retails between $12-$18 a metre. I always buy King sized sheets when they are on sale and can often get cotton ones for $10. In my sheet bin I know I have a couple of beige/tan mottly sheets which would complement your quilt nicely. It would have to be a very special quilt (daughter's wedding) for me to even think of buying yardage for a quilt backing.

A really great floral would look good on the back. I don't usually do matchy matchy but I like to coordinate.

that is so awesome how you can do this!!

I also like a backing that looks good with the pieced top.A color from the front or a nice off white muslin would work.You can often find wide backs at several on line shops, including Thousands of Bolts.

I pick a fabric that coordinates with the front, sometimes one that is in the quilt itself.

I am very new to quilting and it shows. I choose backs that are very busy so that my quilting mishaps are not noticeable. I am inproving but it isn't yet good enough to be on a plain back.

Best way to go unless the quilt is for a very special occasion ..... one rarely takes time to view the backs!

Doesn't anyone use just plain muslin anymore?

Great quilt! I love it. I always match the back to the front. Sometimes I piece with leftover front fabric and other times I use a solid (wide) piece.

I back my quilts with a coordinating fabric, always a print, and usually one that blends with the thread I've chosen to quilt with.

I usually prefer to use a natural colored backing. It's not white but a nice light beige color that goes with everything. Anything with color usually finds itself on the top side of my quilts.

I usually use sheets (bad person, horrifying the quilt police) for backing, usually a solid color from the top that will show the quilting -- I would choose white if that quilt top were mine, but red would be dramatic

So beautiful!!! What ever you decide it will be gorgeous! Please come back and show us the finished quilt.

I often go with a completely different fabric, but with a color that will go with the binding. So it may be a patchwork on the front but the back will be a Christmas print. I like getting 2 quilts for one!lol

love the quilt. I use what ever I have enough of, sometimes piecing the backing using the left over from the front. but it really doesnt matter. whatever you want. I am quiling(longarm)
a quilt for a friend and the front is houses. the back is all 5 inch squares left over from the last quilt I quilted for her. lots of color and fun.

I love this quilt! I can't help with the quilting but for the back I usually use any left over fabric from the front to do a very simple design on the back with coordinating fabric. As others have said, "Two for the price of one."

I made a quilt similar to yours last year for a friend's birthday. Got the pattern from Quick Quilts form my Scrap Bag. I like using a blender on the back that harmonizes with the front. I also buy the wide 108"-120" width and at least 3.5 yards in length. This is for a king-size. Something that you have invested your time and money as well as your talents deserves to be treated as such. I love stars and even enjoyed making the little stars inside the larger stars. Great job.

I don't tend to match the front to the back on my personal quilts. So if I have enough leftovers then ill piece a back. I've bought the ugliest thing on the clearance rack(@ 50 cents a yard), used muslin, extra wide backs, other quilt tops. Others talk about vintage sheets because the flats don't have wear like the fitted. Depends on what your artistic desire is. If you have a chance to see antique museum quilts, they often have something odd on the back. To me it's charming.

One of those biege or tan ,I call them "neutrals" would be good

It may seem odd to some but I like to personalize the back for whoever I'm giving it to. If I don't know who its going to I match the front.

I made one for a friends wedding present and the back was leopard print. She has a thing where there is 1 item in every room of her house with leopard print on it. it's funny to us.

Lately, I've been piecing my backs, using fabrics from the front. Adding more fabrics if needed. Saves me a great deal of $$$, as I haven't worked for over a year. It helps!

I tend to go with a color that matches the piecing on the front. I tend to prefer dark marbled ones though or floral ones for quilts that I know are going to ladies.

I've just started adding a pieced row down the center to cover the fact that there has to be a seam (using 44 inch wide material to cover 65x75 or so size) and to give the back a bit more interest!

That is beautiful!! :thumbup:

I don't like to use solids for backing simply because it doesn't hide my quilting booboos at all.