I use white all the time. Its even bleached muslin. Its what I can afford and I have never had a problem .

I agree! This is your quilt and if you want white, do white! I love the brightness of white and even use white sheets on my bed now. Who's to say what you do with your quilts. Come on, quilting is fun and we shouldn't be limited to satisfy the "quilt police". Get a life!

My mom told me that you are the queen of your quilt so you go ahead and do what ever your heart desires. But remember to make sure that all of your threads and strings are cut off otherwise you will see every one of them through the white, if they go through the batting. I am sure though that it will look amazing. Good luch and show us a pic of it when you are done.:)

Hmmmm... all of my antique quilts are backed with white and by the looks of the handwork on them, they were made by "real" quilters. The quilts I make are backed with white, off white, stripes, or whatever fabric I have the most of that's a good match for the front (though when doing my own FMQ I do lean toward backing with a print because it hides many of my numerous mistakes, lol!). You just go ahead and use whatever color you want to, it's your quilt!

well then I guess our quilting sisters of old were not "real quilters"---they used muslin, either natural or bleached........the use of printed fabrics on back is quite recent....I personally think it was an idea of a fabric designer/mfg......sell more fabric that way.....I use unbleached or bleached muslin on all of my own personal bed quilts.....nothing as soft to the touch as washed good quality muslin......just my personal preference..

I have a reason for preferring white on some of my quilts. A dark backing will show through if you have white background in your quilt top.

Mom has told me about using muslin because it was cheaper. But the 1850's quilts she has, that were made by her great grandmothers, were backed by prints. I do not know of any 'law' that decrees the backing you should use.

All in all, I would say do what you want to do. You have your own reasons for the fabric you use.

"Real Quilters" are creative people who create with what they have and what their imaginations tell them is pretty and works. This is one more time of "what I think is right" Go with what you want and It will be lovely. Can you tell I have not had enough coffee this morning?

I have done one quilt with a coordinated design on the backing (like one huge block) and it is like giving two quilts in one! So if my DS gets sick of the stripey patterns of blues on the front, he can look at the large, restful blocks of blue on the back.
If and when I get good enough to FMQ something pretty to look at, or something well enough constructed to invest in a long-armer to do it, I'll go solid color or white. By then maybe somebody will say I'm a 'real' quilter! LOL

:thumbup: Yeah! I agree...she's not a real friend or she would encourage you to do what you are inspired to do!

I guess I am strange-I use flannel-in any colour that does not clash with the front-as it is warmer for the charity quilts. However the 'real quilts' I bought from the Amish before I partook of the quilting bug have white and green. Love them both.

PS-I don't consider mine 'real quilts' as I start out one way and end up somewhere else-sort of like my driving-At least that is what my BFF says! I couldn't follow a pattern if my life depended on it!

I prefer to use print or colors on the back , it makes a second quilt when reversed (2 for 1) when I use a figured white, it makes the second quilt when it is quilted in colored thread everyone gets to make their choices, isn't that a great plan???

You do what you want for the backing, I am into using what I have even if I have to piece. Go for it!

Hey, GammaLou--What is the definition of a 'real' quilter? My high school students frequently asked me if my rings were 'real.' "Do you think you're having hallucinations?" I replied. "Do we need to send for an ambulance?"

I love using both bleached and unbleached muslin as quilt backs. The friend who does long arm quilting for me has begun to like those backs because the quilting shows up better on those fabrics than on prints.

And, just for the record, my 'real' rings were set with fabulous Austrian crystals. "Don't tell anyone," a jeweler friend advised me. "Only a jeweler with a loop will be able to tell the difference, and he or she would never tell."

Others are right - quilts always had white or muslin backings. I use both and a lot of them have had white or off white backings. I like to save most colored or printed fabrics for the fronts.
I'm glad none of my friends know anything at all about quilting. Or I would dump them. I don't have time for that kind of person.

I'm not sure I'd like to meet these "real quilters" they sound mean. :)
I actually have some quilts from the 30's and guess what? they are backed in white

I think some people may have turned away from white backs because you can see the quilting so well and busy backs hide flaws. But I believe a white or natural colored back can be beautiful. And absolutely nothing beats a red and white quilt!

I too agree with almost everyone....use what you want to and what you like.

helenquilt
 

I love white on the back, why do all that quilting if you can't see it

There is no such rule that I have ever heard of and your Quilt Police friend is not an authority (I hope) on quilting rules and regulations. Because apparently just about anything is OK - and it's your quilt to do with as you please.

If you want a white back then that is what you should do. Be a rebel! Not really, goodness gracious it is your quilt and if you want the back white then that is what it should be.

I think white looks great for a backing. Your top will have lots of white so I think it's great choice. Your quilting will show up great on the back as well the front. I personally like to have the thread match the backing but that's only my choice. You choose what you want, don't listen to someone that may have different tastes than you do.

And the reason great grandma and grandma used white on the back with white backgrounds and pretty reds used for the patchwork or piecing was they wanted to try for a white background throughout the washing life of the quilt! White niot Pink and they didn't have those color catching sheets! rofl Real quilters are too busy figuring out their next design to worry about the unsolicited advice of the quilt police!

Your quilt, your choice

Oh my, the white background has been used throughout history, some to save expences, others to show off the wonderful quilting. So please do use a white backgroung if you wish. I have used lots of prints, as I wish, some to hide my new quilting skills, some for a different look on the back of the quilt. I just was given a hand stitched star quilt with white background made with brighter 50's prints from a friends mom's stash and I plan to use white to add to the quilt. So go for it, remember it's yours and have fun.

Lou,
It is your quilt and you do it the way you want. I have used white on the back of quilts and I feel that I am a 'real' quilter. So go for it. Please post picture of your quilt when finished.