Need Quilt Back Ideas
 

Hi fellow quilters! I am new here and have just introduced my self on the "new kid" thread. I've been straining my brain for awhile on this problem, and thought I would throw it out here to glean from all of your combined experiences!

I am making a king size Amish style quilt. Finished size will be around 110" x 110". The top is complete using typical Amish colors: lots of black, and teals, greys, blues, greens, etc making stars. I only have enough black for about 50% of the back, so intend on using the left over colors to piece together something for the back. I don't intend to do another detailed Amish pattern on the back, I was thinking more along a the lines of something very simple, modern looking so It could be reversible to another style. Because of the king size (and planning on taking to a long arm quilter to quilt) I think I will have to use three widths of fabric to cover it all. But before I just start randomly cutting and piecing together blocks of black and color, I was wondering if anyone had an idea on how to approach this. I'm worried about making a big mess that doesn't look very good.

Anyone have some ideas on how to approach this? Thanks in advance for your help!

You could use black for the top and bottom portions of the backing, and use strips of the colored fabrics for the middle portion. That would be simple and clean-looking.

Try entering "modern quilts" on Google Images - there are some really beautiful ones that would go nicely with your Amish-style front. Flickr also has a gazillion images under Modern Quilts. Do post a photo - we'd love to see what you've done.

Take the free "Creative Quilt Backs" class at craftsy:
http://www.craftsy.com/class/creative-quilt-backs/117

Thank you for posting that link!!

one thing to keep in mind, seen here so many times, is that the LAQ may not be able to keep your backing centered. another thought is that another layer of bulky seams may cause problems with needle/thread breaking. you might want to check with your LAQ on these thoughts.

Excellent idea!

How about doing a quilt like Stackable 1 for the back. Amish on front and modern on the back.

I just made a back for a large quilt and used large rectangles in a brick pattern. By large, I mean almost 1/2 yd each rectangle. I cut them all down to 16-1/2 x 32-1/2. You could do similar between the pieces of black. This pic is a sample of how it looked as I laid out the colors. I don't have a finished one to show you yet (it's on the way back from being quilted by Charisma). You can see it on her blog. I love how it finished up.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]405160[/ATTACH]

I like stacked coins - columns of strips of fabric alternating with the black. With that size quilt, you could use wider scraps like 8 or 8 1/2". The columns go together very fast which is nice after finishing a top. On the last one, I varied the strips - some were 2 1/2" and some more like 3 1/2" - whatever my scraps let me cut.

Thanks for all the great ideas!! I did google modern quilt images and a lot more ideas came up there, too. I'm definitely am going to stick to big pieces, as I am so ready for this project to be over! The problem will be which idea to commit to.... I'll post photos when I'm done.

Maryquilts has a off center 4 patch backing tutorial on her blog. Its my fav if I don't have matching fabric or not enough. Its a free pattern. www.maryquilts.com Look on the left column. Its listed as 'backing off center 4 patch"

ohfransson.com has great quilt back ideas. I've stolen a lot of them!

Just when you think you're done you have to think about how to do the back - a quilter's job is never done!

This is the back to a quilt I made at Christmas. I used squares and randomly sewed some into triangles. My LA quilter has no problems with pieced backings. Sorry about the shadow. [ATTACH=CONFIG]405207[/ATTACH]

Please contact your longarm quilter first. Some don't like pieced backs. If the seams from front and back match it is very difficult to go over, needles break etc. this causes too many problems and some will not do them.

Thank you all for the input! My LAQ has done pieced backs before, so that's not an issue. Tesspug, your back is beautiful! I really liked the Maryquilts off center 4 patch. I may do a variation of that. So many ideas!

Look for posts by JaninVA. She has posted some neat and easy diagrams for piecinq quilt backs. My favorite go-to book is Over Easy by Lerlene Nevaril. There are some great design ideas for the backs, and I have often come up with ideas of my own after checking the book.

Very frequently, I piece the backs of my quilts because I am truly insistent upon using only from my stash. Here is the address to my facebook pictures of my quilts if you want to see:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2702514&type=3

I was going to recommend this too!!!

I like to use up what was used for the front. Then add too as needed.

I lay the front down and start putting pieces on top until its big enough. Then start sewing together, adding a strip of squares/triangle/single piece to make them fit. Can use up scraps this way also. Sometimes the back is as pretty as the top because I was more creative.

I was thinking that if you could find a print with your colors in it, you could place that strip down the middle and use that fabric as the binding. That would tie it all together and maybe be an interesting effect.

Suggestion: a square in a square. Or, my first thought was large stripes using up the black, but if not enough lengths, join with an angle creating a pattern. Consider this an opportunity to express your own style.

I was thinking a big square/rectangle from the black centered in the back, with a single color surrounding it, although you could surround it with different colors.

I have only done one pieced back and it was not a problem. I had a fabric that I was in love with for the back of a quilt, but not enough for the whole backing. I cut the fabric in 10.5" squares and pieced with alternating solids. The 10.5" size is a suggestion on the Quiltville website. The quilt was a gift and the pieced backing was a hit with everyone. I am getting ready to do a similar back on a postage stamp quilt I just finished piecing. I went to JoAnn to find backing and was so disappointed in their stock and quality that I came home empty handed. Good luck. I know you have gotten a lot of great advice here.

Gosh, there are so many great ideas to choose from! Well, I have jumped in and started the back. I'm using the four patch idea. Kinda sorta. I'm using my remaining black, and for the "second color", I'm piecing stripes. Oh, and I added a couple of vertical stripes. Well, I guess this will be my own variation. I'll post here when it's done! Thank you all for being so willing to help.

Please check with longarm quilter to see if she is prepared to use a quilted backing. Some refuse because the bulky seams break needles and cause problems, no matter how well pressed and starched. I did a quilt with what looked like a runner near the bottom using the same fabrics but easy pattern.
Good luck.

Welcome and your project sounds wonderful. Please post a picture. I love to see everyone's quilts.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]408192[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]408194[/ATTACH]

I completed the back! Above are a couple of photos of it. It was a monster to complete. The actual king size quilt is 118" x 118", and the back needed to be 5" bigger on each side for the LAQ. So the back is 128" x 128". Phew! I am so glad this is done. I just have to do the final pressing and removal of all accumulated threads/cat hair/lint from both the back and the front, then off the my LQS to have it quilted. I am so looking forward to getting this off of my dining room table and out of the house for awhile. It just occured to me that you might want to see the quilt top that this goes on, too. Hmmmm, don't have a photo of it at the moment. I'll have to take one, then I'll post.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]409212[/ATTACH]

Here is the quilt top. All the dark areas are actually black, even though they look brown. The colors in the stars are blues, purples, teal and grey. What looks like hot pink, isn't. Same goes for the quilt back above. The lighting in my house turns the colors into funny shades.

tonight I de-linted both pieces and ironed as best as I could. Almost seems like the more I handle them the worse off they become. Anyway, they are nicely folded and safe from any further threads/etc in a plastic bag. I'll take it to my LQS on Monday for quilting. I am soooooo glad to get this off my dining room table.

while its at the quilter's I'm going to prepare the binding, and I think I'm going to whip up some pillow cases. I just found a really simple pattern I want to try.

Very pretty! Stars are my favorite blocks...and I love your back..and yes, its a monster! lolol

I once saw a quilt done in Amish style which took one block, enlarged it many times larger and used it to showpiece the back of the qult, set on black. It was very lovely.