Ohio Star Help Needed
 

I am just starting to make an Ohio Star quilt in (of course) red and white. I was planning on making the back in plain white but I friend of mine said that 'real' quilters don't put white on the back of their quilts. What's up with that?

It's your quilt. You can do anything you want to do. There are no rules in quilting. Just please yourself.

That was a quilt police answer. I agree...suit yourself. Both the quilts I have from grandmother, made in the 30s, have solid white backing. They are lovely.

I personally wouldn't use white as a backing as white seems to suck in the dirt, especially in my house! BUT....it's your quilt and you make it with whatever fabrics and with whatever technique/quilting/bindings that works for you.

If you want white do white. Who has the right to tell you what color you need to make the back, unless they are paying you to make this quilt. Grace

too funny---i've been a pretty (real quilter) for something like 35 years...and have many many quilts with white backs- and with white backgrounds- and i know many, many quilters who always use white- trying to get them to be adventurous and use a print is like pulling teeth...so i just find this statement funny-
as a quilter you should use what you want that works best for the outcome you are looking for :)

OMG ... too funny!

Traditionally the backs were white or muslin ... It's only in recent times that quilters stepped outside of the traditional white box and went to pieced backings or coloured or printed.

OMG ... again, too funny!
And you call her a "friend"? :)

If you like and want white - use it. I, myself, love white or other solid colors on the back of quilts because I love to see the quilting patterns on the backs when the quilts are finished.

Printed quilt backs don't allow the quilting design to show at all, in my opinion, if white pleases you, use it. Many of my quilts have white backs, and I buy that fabric by the bolt!

"Real quilters" do what they want and ignore people that clearly don't know what they're talking about.

sing it sister.

I'm so glad you asked that question!! I have tons of plain muslin and have been wondering about using it for backing on my lap quilts. I know back when I was young (gazilllions of years ago) my Grandmother's quilts almost always had white backings (mostly from flour sacks I think) but all the ones I have seen in the past several years have always had prints for the backing....Hot Dog, now I feel better....Thanks

Could not have said it any better! :) The friend sounds like she may be a little bossy and hard to please. :)

I've used white for backings alot!

"Real" quilters???? And what are you, an imaginary quilter? Will you have an imaginary quilt? That's the silliest thing I've heard in a while.

tell her &^$## *^$%@#
then do as you please.

WTG, Scissor Queen!

Back a hundred years ago, my quilting teacher told us to use a patterned back if you didn't want your quilting mistakes to show. Maybe that's what your "friend" was thinking of. I used to always use muslin backing and only recently started using print backing. I go with what looks the best!

My mother-in-law would turn over in her grave if any of us would use anything but white for the backing for any of her quilt tops.

"real quilters"? mmm ok. I love white. Tell her to stuff it

I have not seen anything except white until recently. I do patterns on lap quilts because both sides will be seen, but bed quilts are white for sure. I do my table runners white no matter what color they are because I can see the quilting. It's your quilt. Do what you wish.

If thats the case, I'm going to lock my doors to keep the quilt police out!! I am quilting a quilt with a white back as we speak (type). Don't tell your friend!!!

When I started quiliting in the early 80's we were taught to use muslin. I always preferred the natural rather than white. Now I use what ever I have on hand. Printed backing can get quite expensive. I have even used sheets thaty I got on sale. the gal that does my long arm work shes she has no problem using sheets. They make a strong backing that is fine when I make quilts for the grandchildren. Use what you want!!!

I frequently put white or WOW (white on white) backing for my quilts. I get a colored quilt on the front side and, depending on how well the quilting design fits, a solid white trapunto quilt on the back.

Put what you want, just remember it really shows the quilting well, the white, so if you want to show off your beautiful quilting go for it. I like using a colored background though that way I can flip it over if I am wanting a different look on my bed. Whatever floats your boat.

laughing...just tell her that you're not a "real" quilter because you use white as a backing. In fact, you could name your quilt..."not a real quilt".
;-D

'real quilters' do what they want!

Not to long ago i was showing off a quilt at my moms hair salon. One of her customers was 89 yrs old and had been a quilter all her life. When she saw my floral backing she said "Oh you used colored fabric on the back? I've never done that" She was a real quilter, self taught, patterns from newspapers and magazines. A real quilter to me does what she is inspired to do, because the inspiration is whats real.

A good many people like to see the quilting on the back. Colored thread on a contrasting solid is beautiful. Patterned backing fabric makes the quilted pattern harder to see. Your choice.

So, you have a crazy friend! I have quilts from many years ago with white backs and white backgrounds. When you make a quilt you can use whatever color you decide!!!!

I even put WHITE BINDING on a quilt with a white back!

The only reason I can see not to use white is all your mistakes show more. Personally, I prefer white on white rather than stark white. I'm wondering if the reason behind that statement is that a patterned backing would show through on the front. That is no longer a problem with the battings available today.
Sue

Well if you are not a real quilter then she is not a real friend! Lol

I agree, it is your quilt!

Oh my goodness.... I use white for my backs and for piecing I think it make the color fabric pop .. use what ever you feel will look the best...

Did your friend say why you shouldn't use white? Just curious as I love backs in white as they show the quilting like a new quilts from the front.

The Amish always use white, and I love how you can see all the beautiful quilting

Greetings all. I asked Momma once why most of her quilts had a white or off white backing. She said it was always much cheaper for them to put on a white backing as colored cloth was so expensive. Peace, Robert.

"Real Quilters" don't listen to people who obviously don't know what they are talking about. The Quilt Police should face a firing squad.

Cut yourself a break and stop listening to any advice containing the words "a real quilter would..."

I am still trying to figure what a real quilter is because surely when someone uses such a description they are implying the existence of a negative opposite, right? Letting my creative juices flow I am thinking maybe: "faux, pretend, out of date, stale, cartoon, liar, uninformed, stupid, challenged or dumb quilter?"

We do not need quilt police trolling the USA! Suggest they send a resumé to the QIA (Quilt Intelligence Agency) and let them loose in the rest of the world. Come to think of it, that is probably the only agency the EU is missing from their list of rule makers.