Piecing Quilt Back
 

I just finished a red, black, and white quilt top for a friend. I am left with lots of large pieces of fabric. I would like to piece a back for this quilt. I have one piece that is about 42 in. x 42 in. Thought I could start there, but not sure what to do. Have any of you pieced a back for your quilt? Did you use a pattern or just start sewing fabrics together? My quilt top is about 70 in. x 70 in.

Sometimes there's some organization to it ... in the first photo, you'll see butterflies that were fussy-cut from the main fabric on the front. The horizontal row of pieced butterflies were extras from what was also used on the front.

Sometimes I just put pieces together, scrappy like ... the second photo shows one where I just started adding pieces of the leftovers. To be sure to keep the backing flat, I stop and squared after every addition.

Both work ... depending on the look you want!

piecing quilt back
 

Do it all the time, in fact the quilt on my bed is pieced and I love it as much as the top. I started with a large square too, don't remember how big it was, and added from there. It's all batik's, maybe that is why I love it so much. I'll see if I can find a picture.

I put squares in sometimes ,other times i just use the colors from the front of quilt. Its fun to make your own design,I have made so many different ways ,like to see a quilt that you can use both sides as a top. joyce j

I never thought of doing this, what a great idea, I'm going to try it on my next quilt, it sure is better than buying so many yards for the back!

I started piecing my backs a few years ago and now I do it on all my quilts. I think that they add personality to the quilt plus, they help eliminate leftovers in the scrap bin.

My last baby quilt I made I used leftover blocks pieced together and then used my leftover fabric to make large strips around the center block. The back was cutier than the top (in my opinion). Anyway just let your creativity rule. You'll be surprised what you end up with.

The only thing I would suggest is not to try to have anything that has be to centered or symmetric. It can be done but it can make it a little difficult.

Thanks so much for the ideas and the photos. I think I'll start with the large piece in the middle and create rows around that. I'll post a photo when I get it done. What great ideas!

I'm intrigued what the front of the quilt is like ... would you please show us a photo?
Thanks!


Some ideas ... with such a large piece, you may not want it left whole.
Or leave it whole, and put on point ... and then add your other pieces.

When I did the D9P ... on the back, I did an oversized two D9P and then added the rest of tha backing fabric. Here's a pic .........

I did that once and had a terrible time getting it to lay flat. The quilt was never finished. The backs shown here are very pretty. Good luck with your quilt.
Sue

Plan your back carefully so that it seems to carry on the theme from the front. Otherwise, it just looks like, well, leftovers. You paid a lot for that fabric on the front. Make sure you can be just as proud of the back. Poster QuiltE has really interesting backs. Even that totally scrappy one looks planned somehow.

I've done several quilts that use 2 different fabrics (not enough of any one) which went across the width. I have only done one pieced back using multiple fabrics. This was a quilt-as-you-go quilt that I did section by section and the placement reflects that. Its not nearly as interesting as Equilter's though.

IAmCatOwned ... Thank you for the kind words about my quilts.
For the "scrappy back" ... I used only fabrics that were on the front of the quilt,
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t172511.html
and none of the light ones on the back. So that probably helped them to blend together nicely.

I can't agree with you more IACO ... re the importance of coordinating the back to the front!! Otherwise, it just looks like a jumbled mess IMHO!

Plus, I like the back to be nice so you don't have to be ashamed of it if someone sees it. Especially for a lap quilt, that is apt to be left draped, people see both sides!

A bonus of the D9P back shown above ... I flip it over on my bad at Christmas and put my smaller Christmas quilt on top. I had planned it as a family room quilt, but then decided I didn't see much of it, as it was always folded in some way. This way it's out on display, I smile when I see it ... and if I want to use it in the family room, it's just a few steps away!


Susie-S-S ... Sorry for your disappointment ... as I mentioned in my earlier post, it's really important to trim and square at every step in order to keep it flat.

Photos of Quilt Top and Pieced Backing
 

Thanks for your suggestions for piecing a back for my red and black quilt. I have added photos of top and backing.

You did a great job. I love it!!!!

Great question and great answers! So much inspiration!

Nicely done! .... now you have a reversable quilt, for sure!

And now, how are you going to quilt it?

i've pieced many many backs===sometimes i just put together large blocks of fabric until it is the correct size - never had anyone not think it was pretty neat (even if it was - just left overs)
sometimes piece large pieces that did not even come from that quilt- so it's a totally different quilt on the back-
sometimes i just start with a large piece and start putting borders around it until it's the correct size-
anyway you choose to do it will work just fine- one thing to consider though- if your top has alot of seams- you may way to use as large as possible pieces on the back so you are not (fighting double seams-top & bottom) when quilting