Quilt backing?
 

I was wondering how many of you match the print on the backing of your quilt. I have to sew 21/2 lengths of the fabric together to make the back of a queen size quilt, the fabric has butterflies on it with pink background and was wondering if I should try and match the butterflies. I think it will take a little more fabric to match and not sure I will have enough but I guess I could try. Here is a picture of the fabric and the repeat of the butterflies it about 16 inches which I think is a lot. what do you think? Thanks for your help

On a Log Cabin quilt with a pieced backing the backing did not match. It bothered me. I ripped it, matched it and am happy that it matches.

I have never tried to match fabric elements on the back. However I often have a strips different fabric(s) separating strips of the same fabric. That eliminates the need to match.

I'm fussy and often match backings if I can. If I can't, well I can't and I move on.

Last year I made my "Not Quite Y2K" quilt because it was less than 2000 squares and I didn't get it together until 2019. I found a funky 1980s era border print at a thrift store that I just fell in love with, reminds me of a dress I had and I decided to use it even though it is a cotton/poly blend and typically I avoid a seam down the middle.

Those thin strips (that I matched) are more of a lilac than the pictures shows. Pic 1 is the back, 2 is the front.

Edit: the pattern of the border print is also matched using the registration dots in the selvedge.

I'm a matcher and have matched some pretty intricate backings.
Why? .... because I know I would never be happy if I did not.
Plus, I like the look of the whole cloth print, when a quilt is flipped over.
Gives it a dual-purpose look and doubles the usage.

Your butterflies are pretty enough, that they deserve to be matched.

If you do not have enough, you could do some inserts and save matching the butterflies.

I try to match at least one color on the front. If not, oh well. I mainly make quilts to give away or donate.

I would match them. It was not that difficult the time I did it.

I would take a strip a solid to separate them. That way you have both, but don't have to be specific about lining up the images

Thanks, everyone I never thought to put a solid strip of fabric between the fabric. If I have enough of the backing fabric I will try and match the butterflies on the backing fabric. I really like the solid strip of fabric. Thanks again

I agree with Dunster. Sew in a strip! I often use the larger pieces of my top for the back and personally I think it is great. Works for me and it is a great “stash buster”.😁

All l've ever worried about is when the fabric has a definite direction. If so, I make all the pieces go the same way. Otherwise, I usually do the fabric strip approach.

This is a great opportunity for a creative back design. Perhaps some orphan blocks for the strip or use a strip of coordinating fabric between the 2 butterfly pieces.

Check the selvage direction when piecing.If the selvage of piece #1 is on the left side, the selvage of piece #2 should also be on the left when you sew them. This keeps the print design going. Some prints won't matter if they get turned.

I pin a sticky note to the top of the piece to keep it in the correct position before sewing.

I made a Log Cabin for our King bed. Being that large I had to do some piecing. What I did was take leftover blocks and used them as a strip down the middle of the back. It worked well.
I did another quilt one time where I used a backing that I didn't really like and it bugged me every time I looked at it! Lesson learned.

I usually use fabrics of the front blocks I have made. I piece whatever fabrics I can to make up enough to cover the back. Sometimes I have extra blocks that I have made and I put those down the middle. I also have put a strip of fabric down the middle too.

I'm not fussy about backing seams. If I can match them, I do. What I am more fussy about is that the backing fabric is of a similar theme as the front... such as not using a juvenille or a feminine print on the back of a masculine top.

I have matched a fabric for only 2 quilts. They were pieces that were designed to compliment the fabrics on the quilt top. Most of the time it will not matter. It is always the quilters choice. Have fun with the butterflies.