Never pieced a back before except down the center. At one of the quilt seminars one of the teachers told us not to piece the backing across the width of the quilt but only down the center length wise. I have never had trouble with this. But I like the pieced look shown and also have seen reversable quilts with another quilt top on the back. Very interesting.

I really like the look of backing made from 3 or more vertical "stripes". I used three for my 9 patch quilt for my own queen sized bed. I fold back the top a little to show the stripes when I make the bed each morning. My next quilt will have at least 5 vertical strips.

One thing I like about this method is that it is easy to make a square backing. This is the one instance where I use tearing to get straight of grain seams. To me, these seams make a good reference point while basting the sandwich to keep the backing on the straight of grain.

Thank you...this post helped me as well...I put the link in my favorites!!

I have wondered about striping the backs horizontally, since while I am using the quilting frame, those seams are taking quite a pressure. It is pretty amazing how tight you can get the fabric when you are anchored at one end and have a ratchet style catch on each end of the cross pieces.
So, when I read "only vertically", it made sense to me ... but then they started to using all sorts of seams to make the backing, and when you realize the top (which has all sorts of seams) goes through the same pressure ...
all of my reservations disappeared.
Probably the most important thing to remember is the stitch size as you are doing the seams. The bigger the stitch length? the less tension it can handle.

I have never had much luck getting the seam straight down the middle so I do not try. I just hope that it blends enough so that it is not noticable.

OOPS...I don't know how to delete this message!

I frequently have to piece fabric to have enough for the back. I buy enough for the width of the quilt including 8" (4" on each side for the quilter...or whatever your quilter needs). First I iron the fabric making sure I iron out the fold, then fold it in half (the opposite of the way it comes folded), make sure you the fabric is face to face, then sew along that line. Cut through the end you just sewed and open it up. I iron the seam open, not to one side as you do piecing your quilt so it doesn't add bulk. After it's quilted that seem will hardly be noticed and the quilting should add strength. If you have a very large quilt you may need to buy enough for the length (or width, whichever works out better), plus whatever the quilter needs and seam it with 3 panels. I can't wait to see your quilt!

Somtimes I like to do two tops, one slighty bigger. That way I have two quilts for the space of one. Sometimes I use big pieces of what ever is left over from the front. I am however having trouble understanding why you can't seam down the middle. How is it going to come apart with all the quilting?

I don't understand either. I've never had a problem with my quilts when I've put the seam down the middle, although there's less of a seam making it the width instead of the length. I've also used leftover fabric from the front to put on the back...it's a nice surprise when you turn the quilt over.

I'm sorry, I told you to sew and cut the FOLDED end. You need to sew ONE SIDE of the fabric then cut the folded side (leaving it folded rather than cutting before sewing, helps keep the fabric even), so when it's opened you have a seam across the middle of the quilt back. I hope I didn't confuse you too much!