This is making my head hurt!
 

I want to piece the back for a quilt because (a) I don't have enough of a single fabric and (b) I want to use all my scraps from the front. I've never done this before.

I am trying to figure out where the leftover pieces should go relative to the bigger pieces of fabric to make the back the size I need.

I've been trying to lay it out on graph paper this morning, but am not having a lot of luck. I get to a certain point and my head hurts and my eyes cross! I am considering cutting the larger pieces of fabric into, say, 12 inch blocks or strips and just start sewing everything together. Or perhaps I should look for a pattern to use for the back and hope I have enough fabric.

Thank you for ideas and/or tips.

I think it's easiest to cut wide strips of the larger pieces, then decide on a block size and make a strip of blocks (does not need to be the same size) to insert between the wide fabric strips. You could repeat this as needed to fill out the length. You could also use blocks just for part of a strip and fill out the rest with strips of fabric. Off-center the blocks. This would make for an interesting back that is not too much work.

Thank you, Prism99! I'll just screw my courage to the sticking post and start cutting!

Make a big square patch backing. Sew all the scrap pieces into big square pieces and then alternate the scrap squares with backing fabric squares. I do it this way to use up big scrap pieces and it makes a great backing fabric.

You really want the least amount of seams on the backing. Remember, you have all the seams on your top and sometimes when quilting if a top seam and a back seam met, you might have trouble with the stitching because of the bulk. Also, the more seams the less fabric you have to work with. If you should ever catch the PBS show Quilt in a Day (also on the RFD), one of EB assistant is Sue Bouchard who ALWAYS uses up all her leftovers for piecing the back of her quilts. EB will always show the backs of Sue's quilts on the TV show.

I do the same as Prism. I turn the spare fabric into squares and run them lengthwise down the back to make up the width. I never try to place it in the exact center, I always try to place it to one side maybe 8-12 inches from the edge on the left or right.

there's a free class at craftsy on creative quilt backs:

http://www.craftsy.com/classes/quilt...=quilting/free

I used scraps on the back of this one. the front was diamonds with wide orange borders. I just put the scraps together and added orange fabric to top and bottom. then to the sides for enough backing.

There are several good tutorials if you look on Google for pieced backing. Here is one that looks quite good:http://christaquiltsblog.com/2013/07...king-tutorial/

I love playing around with pieced backs Kim and once you start it tends to get a bit addictive. Am attaching some of mine to give you a bit of encouragement. Good luck.

Boy, those backs are beautiful. I may have to get creative and try something different....WoW!!!

Dina

Check out the book by Elizabeth Hartman titled Modern Patchwork. 12 patterns are given and there are suggestions for pieced backings, too. There are some very neat ideas in that book!

This is how I handled a similar problem. Saw this pattern on this site and used it and it worked. Good luck. This is very easy!

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I have many times pieced my backs to making it large enough. If I have any left over blocks I'll put those together to make a row. I made a Row Robin quilt this year where I enlarged the blocks I'd made to put on the back. I also used large sections of fabric colors I pulled from the blocks on the front. I did draw it out on graph paper first, but that was quite general in size. I know some long armers don't like a pieced back, but I fmq all my quilts, so it doesn't matter to me.

make TWO quilt tops and use one for the back that way they have two quilts in one, works for tablecloths as well.. palcemats etc.. they do not have to match, you really don't want it to match. like different seasons.. Christmas or thanksgiving and so on.. enjoy

Go on John Flynn's website and he has a formula for a backing piecing.

Thank you, everyone! Lots of great ideas and I appreciate all of you taking the time to post. This is the best forum ever!

This blogger did a great tutorial/pattern for a really cute pieced back that would be easy to duplicate. http://catbirdquilts.wordpress.com/2...al-fast-backs/

In my advanced years and limited 3 years of quilting, I decided that the back of every quilt would be as interesting as the front so that I could just flip flop them if I wanted to do so. So, I always make the backs as much fun as the front. Here is my patriotic quilt that I got the basic quilt from Connecting Threads and then did my own thing with it. Maybe this will help. I have patch-worked the backs, designed backs with left over blocks from the fronts, made a totally different quilt on the back, husband wanted fleece on one of his OSU quilts so it is soft and wonderful and fluffy. The back of this one was two major pieces of backing with a beautiful row of left over stars that I had fussy cut for the blocks on the front of the quilt.

After seeing a documentary on Gees Bend quilts I was inspired to piece the back of a quilt without much planning. I just started sewing my leftover pieces together until it fit the top. I love the unexpected look of the back. I also really enjoyed the sewing with no planning approach, especially when it turned out so well. Enjoy the creating...it's fun!

I just started sewing it together and when I got it wide enough, I started sewing on the end.

I love making my backs with left over fabric from the front. I just make it up as I go along. It usually comes out great. The people I give my quilts sometimes like the back just as much as the front.

If you are sending quilt out to long armer ask if they are prepared to quilt a pieced backing. I know one who after breaking numerous needles refuses to do another one. The needle kept breaking over the seams where the back and front matched . All the layers were too thick. If you are doing it yourself go carefully.
This sounds as if I don't like pieced backing which is not true as I frequently do them.

I usually draw a diagram. It helps me to see it rather than going through a bunch of figures.

Keep in mind that more seams in the back can be a problem--on the long arm seams can cause problems if front & back line up on the seams. Also, if you want the back pieced design to line up in a specific way, you need to be very accurate--mark both top and back centers with a pin woven it it (alert your LA) so that it works.

I found this thread extremely helpful. I made a baby quilt recently and had some Sesame Street fabric that would work, but doesn't match eachother. I think I'll use the biggest piece and add a strip of solids that I used on the front. I've not pieced a back before, but this would be a small enough projects to try it out on!

I have a question about piecing the back of a quilt? I have pieced a back with large squares, if one pieces the back with small pieces won't that cause a problem where the needle will need to go through possibly very thick/hard seams?

You are getting a lot of good ideas on the board. I made a scrappy for my granddaughter's wedding
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Then I pieced the back of it with many of the colors on the front

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There's also another free Craftsy class called Creative Quilt Backs, taught by Elizabeth Hartman. Loved the class. She is an excellent teacher and the technique is fun.

If you have one fabric that is dominant but need to add to make it the size you want it to be, I follow this rule: add the extra fabric to the center and then use the dominant fabric for the sides. Never add a strip to the edge! you will not be happy if your binding gets in the way of that strip of fabric on the edge. hope that makes sense!