Your crib quilt is darling! I am just finishing the top for a crib quilt for my first grandbaby, too, and have pondered the backing question. I am backing it with flannel and didn't realize their could be oh so many ways to piece it together! LOL If I had it to do over again (the flannel is already purchased), I would have just purchased a flat twin sheet. It would be wide enough and no seams would be needed. I think it would work okay???? Have a good trip and kiss that new baby for me!

Just came across this post. Your crib quilt is beautiful. Great Job!

Thanks for posting that link pinecone. That's gonna come in handy. I wish I'd known about that technique awhile back when I was just a little short on a particular fabric and didn't want to make a pieced backing. I'll be using this idea at some point I'm sure.

Piecing the backing can solve the problem of having fabric that is just shy of your width too, if you're up to doing a little more piecing. Just bring some of the fabrics that you've used on your top around to the back to make an interesting back. I've seen some really wonderful pieced backs. I've made one that I really liked. Usually by the time I'm done with the top, I don't want to make another "top" for the back, but it can be a great back "widener" and make the back more interesting, and you don't have to make it all that complicated. You can also just add a wide enough strip of some of the fabric used on the top if you have any left, or a fabric that would compliment it. I try not to have to buy the double length if I'm only a few inches shy. :)

Gosh, I nearly forgot to mention how absolutely adorable that quilt top is!! It's very sweet.

One solution for a quilt that need narrow additions on each side is to use scraps from the front and piece a matching border on the back. I think it would look cute.
As for the one seam on the back, I was not aware of the strain on the seam, so I have been doing mine with one seam for 30 years, and have never, repeat, never had one pull out, break a thread, wear wierd, or anything else. It works well for me. And I would rather hand quilt over one back seam than two or three. But, I also do whatever saves the most fabric, unless I want to use the backing for something else. That's my opinion and I am sticking to it.

I had that link bookmarked for a long time and was going to use it today, the diagonal piecing. Got the formula all done and tried it on a small piece of scrap. I must really be dense but I can't see how it will work (I think the instructions are not well written for my understanding). I only have so much fabric and I refuse to drive another 100 miles to replace it, especially since I bought the end of the bolt and didn't see anything else I liked as much.

I need specific instructions, I think he left a lot for one to assume. Don't mean any slamming, I just need step by step with nothing for the mind to assume cuz my assuming and someone else's are usually very different.

Donna

Pinecone-thank you for the link to the John Flynn site. I bookmarked it and am anxious to try this method on a quilt back.

I either do the seem vertical (shortest seam) down the middle or I divide it into 3rds and do it that way.
It never runs lengthwise always the shortest seam on the back.
Works for me. No problem quilting.
K