How do you choose your back fabric?
 

So I'm in the process of finishing 2 of my quilts that I have been working on and discovered I needed backing fabric for both of them. So I went to Joann's and looked for some backing fabric but didn't know what color to get. I was dumb founded at the thought at trying to pick the right color that looked good with my quilts. I read and looked a pictures but nothing really helped. After looking I decided on a solid dark green for one and for the other one off white, what I want to know is "How do you pick your backing fabric?" and know that I have decided to do dark green "What color thread should I quilt it with?" Oh ya I forgot to tell you after I got done basting one of the quilts realized there wasn't enough backing fabric. Any suggestions would help greatly.

I consider a couple of things:

- what color is my binding going to be? I like the binding and backing fabric to look good together.

- if I have a very light quilt top, I won't choose a dark backing, as it may shadow through (some of that depends on how opaque the batting is)

- what color thread will I be quilting with, and how much do I want the quilting to show on the back? As a longarm quilter, I match my bobbin thread to my top thread. If I'm using white thread, and my backing fabric is black, that thread will REALLY show. If you are a new quilter and aren't really confident of your quilting ability, you may be happier with a thread that blends in on the backing, so it doesn't show all your 'wobbles'. So then I would choose either a lighter backing, or a very busy print, that will help hide the quilting. ;)

I used to try to match the front as closely as possible, but lately I have been going with tone on tone white or off white. It matches anything and I can shop at my sister's house (next door). She has wonderful bargains. :-)

I usually do some piecing on my backs, so I start with leftover blocks or leftover scraps. Then I look for additional fabric that coordinates with those pieces. I often select a contrasting fabric as I do like the look of a dark fabric back on a lighter pieced front if the overall colors coordinate. Seems like I do spend a lot of time on the backs which not everyone wants to do.

Ya I thought about getting a bolt of white fabric or off white to quilt my backs with instead of using a solid "color" so that I know it match better.

If I have a very busy or bright top, then I look for a subdued backing. I have pieced backings and like the look, too. In January, I go to Sears and JCPenney to see if they have any flannel sheet sets on sale. If I like one or two, I buy them at very discounted prices. There's a lot of flannel in twin, full or queen size sheets. I will also use 100% cotton sheets, 180 thread count or a poly/cotton blend as long as there is more cotton then poly.

There are times when I just see a fabric and know it will work for the backing! That's usually a more expensive way to pick backing, though.

All methods work, though!

I buy fabric on sale for backings. Connecting Threads has good sale prices. I also shop M & L in Anaheim whenever I visit my daughter. Usually I don't have a particular quilt in mind so I get 5-6 yards in colors that go with stash fabrics. That's usually enough for the size quilts I make. If it's a bit short I'll piece the back. Sometimes I piece the backing using leftovers from the front. I choose a backing that coordinates with the front but might not necessarily "match." And since my FMQ isn't that great (yet) I like a busy print.

I often piece my backing from leftover bits from the front. Love the idea of back art. Then I find something that fits with all of the fabrics I'm already using. As for thread, I like to use variegated thread that picks up a lot of the colors, or I'll go neutral. If I don't want to see the stitches, there is always monofilament.

I try to use leftover fabrics/blocks from the top, along with similar fabrics to make a pieced back. It's also fun to do another pattern or design too~ I also like to use busy prints.

I mostly like to use backings that contain colors from the top. Sometimes, it will be something really bold, other times, not so much. I only buy for projects so I will usually purchase the whole kit & kaboodle at the same time. Typically I will get binding fabric that will coordinate with both top and back.

Thread...I'm a hand quilter but the principle is the same...depends on how much I want my quilting to show - either front or back.

If I have several large scraps, I will piece my backing, buying only what I need to complete the backing. If I have no scraps, I may use something very different on the back. The binding will match/blend with the pieced top and the back, but I love to turn the quilt over and find a surprise. If I want the backing to blend with the top, I take my top with me and spend time laying top and potential backings together in the store.

I try to match the backing with the front of course. If I want wide backing Hobby Lobby now carries it, it is $11.99 a yard but with the 40% off it is reasonable and also at Hancocks using a coupon is a good deal.

I have a bolt of navy blue 108" wide fabric that is my current "go-to" fabric for backing quilts, as long as it "goes" with the quilt well enough.

I also stash 108" wide muslin, for another "generic" option. I also have several pieces of wide fabric prints I've picked up, in a variety of colors.

Bed quilts I tend to make a more boring backing for, but lap/throw quilts I figure the back is probably seen nearly as often as the front so I usually snazz it up a little with some pieced bits using leftovers from the front if I'm piecing the back out of standard-width fabric; or use a nicer printed backing if I'm using wide fabric.

I don't stress it at all! As a LAQ, I love the ease of using wide backing with no piecing involved, so I have a lot of wide back in my stash. I buy what is on sale. I have it from very busy prints to wide muslin to tonals. Sometimes I want a flannel back on the quilt. Then I just try to choose some colors or prints that compliment my top. Sometimes I use leftover blocks or scraps from the front and do a pieced back. Sometimes I don't go by color at all but go by theme, like I did a quilt with tigers and dragons quilted on the front. The quilt was black with red yellow and orange in batik fabrics on the front. The backing I chose an asian print with dragons and tigers that was a tan color so the color did not at all go with the top, aside from the dragon and tiger theme. On one recent quilt, I used an inexpensive walmart fleece blanket. In my mind its all good and there are no rules.

This may not help you for these two quilts but for the future. A lot of the time I choose my backing fabric before I make the quilt to go with it. I pull colors from my backing choice for the top. I am not the best quilter so having a patterned backing helps to hide my poor skills.

Those times I make a top before I have a backing I just take the top with me to my LQS and audition fabrics.
I love the hunt!
peace

I went to a class with a teacher and she picks a theme and uses it for ALL her backs. For example- flamingos or owls, etc. They had NOTHING to do with the front but these are her quilts so she does what pleases her. I thought it was genius.

I just try to get it to coordinate with the binding or take scraps or photos and use those to coordinate, not necessarily match.

I agree with most of the posts. If I have any extra fabric from making the quilt top, I use it up on the backing so that it does look to coordinate. But it is important to think ahead of thread and with that color will determine your backing. I was taught back in the early 90s to use a busy print on the back so any of my mistakes would NOT be as obvious as if I used muslin instead.

I buy wide muslin from Joanns when I have a 50% coupon.....muslin washes great, not a lot of shrinkage with better brands, can get up to 120" wide, matches everything, very soft after washing, and saving the best for last - it is cheap!

you don't see both sides at the same time, so I make double sided quilts. Both pieced. And flip a coin for which side the binding favors. Half the quilting time or expense, half the storage space. I love them. I change out my bed quilts at the first of the month, during that month there are two quilts on the bed with four sides to admire, so each week those two quilts trade the spotlight

Almost all of my quilts are backed with Kona Premium Natural muslin. It sews wonderfully either by machine or hand. Otherwise a quality flannel with a print to co-ordinate with the top.

If it's going on a wall, bed or table, I just use a nice plain muslin because you are not going to see the back (and I'm cheap). For everything else, I will either use up the scraps from the top plus a coordinating fabric, or just a coordinating fabric.

That's what I did and hoping it would have helped but it didn't really.

I buy backing fabric that is the same as one of the fabrics in the top. That means that my backing has to be pieced; but that is fine with me. I do try to get enough fabric so that deiigns match where seamed and it is difficult to find the seam. Since I am not the greatest FMQ, I select printed fabrics that will not highlight my quilting. For solid fabric backing, I send my quilts to the LAQ.

As much as possible, I use 120 inch muslin. Quilting looks great on it, the color is neutral and there is no need to piece anything. froggyintexas

There was a time when I purchased a backing fabric to coordinate with the quilt top, but no more. I try to use as much of the scraps left over from the top and then find something from my stash to put with it.

What Tartan said. ditto.

I piece my backs with blocks from the top so my backing fabric coordinates with the top and I also use the backing fabric for my binding as well.

When I took my very first quilting class, the instructor said that the backing should not be any darker than the lightest fabric on the top owing to the shadowing. I have pretty much followed this advice. If you go darker, then be sure to audition your backing and make sure it does not shadow otherwise, go w/a heavier batting.

I have been shopping at mny stash. I have put pieced backings on the last three I've made. Almost like getting 2 quilts in one, and my stash is getting smaller.

I use a lot of large "pieces" ..... scraps if you will......I do somewhat coordinate them but not with the front so much,....more with each other. I also love to use flannel if I want the quilt to be a bit warmer and softer. Sometimes I coordinate extra blocks into the backing. I generally feel that almost anything goes as long as it doesn't loundly fight with the top.....now a special top is different. Then I do try to make a nice and somewhat coordinating choice,

Good advice from everyone. I frequently piece my backs and I don't usually use solid or dark backs so the color won't shadow through.

I've seen nice looking backs with a strip of one of the top fabrics or piano keys from the top down the center back or along the sides of the back, or you can use a coordinating fabric down the center back or around the sides.

I usually look for larger pieces of fabric in my stash -- if I have to piece it that is fine. I rarely buy fabric that "matches" the front. At this point I'm trying to use what I already have!

I tend to use fabric that I have had forever and have no earthly idea why I still have it. If it has the colors of the quilt top and compliments the quilt top then usually that is it. A big part of choosing is if I want my quilting to show or be invisible. For example, the quilt I'm doing now is primarily aqua so I selected a floral, pale, with shades of aqua as the backing. I am quilting using a varigated aqua thread and a geometric pattern, the back looks very pretty so far. I recently made a quilt for my son using his college logo fabric, with musical sashing as he played in the marching band and bordered it in black. I choose a red tartan plaid for the backing as to me it was in keeping with the fact that it was for a man. Then when I quilted it I used a gold thread and it made the back really pop. So I guess picking a backing is really just doing what looks good to you and compliments your beautiful work on the top. Oh, quality of the fabric is super important to me. I will not use a flimsy fabric for the backing. Hope this helps you a little bit.

backsidefabrics.com will send you free swatches of whatever you want to try out. All their fabrics are for backings.

I have...
Bought a backing to match the front.
Bought a white flannel sheet and dyed to match.
Pieced a back from extra front fabric.
Used the main front fabric as the back.

My quilts are "gifted hugs", so show quality is not important in my quilts. Sturdy is my main concern.

Most of the time my quilt backings are whatever I have enough of in my stash. It doesn't have to match the front of the quilt.
Sharon