I recently put together a quilt back from all the left over quilt top pieces. Not the same pattern, just a mishmash. Is that okay?

There's NO quilt police on this board!! Yes, that's fine!! Do whatever you want.

dkabasketlady is right...no quilt police exist...EXCEPT for YOU! Are you happy with the back? If you are, then you couldn't have done a better job! :) If not...well...you won't do that again, will you? ;) :)

I think the only time it could be a problem is if you are sending it out to a longarm quilter. From some of the posts I've read in the past, some of them may prefer a one-two piece back.

If you are quilting it yourself, anything goes! Some of the backs are as pretty as the front!


EDITED: I should add that if you plan to send it out for quilting, it's probably wise to speak with the quilter before you piece the back to be sure they can accommodate you.

we don't need no stinkin' rulz!!

I have spoken to LAQ and they have found that sometimes the quilt backs will get wonky because of the the difference with sewing together the "along the salvage" pieces with the "opposite of the salvage" (grain and cross grain). I think cross grain can stretch ever so slightly.

Just keep that in mind ...

I think it's fun to have a pretty quilt back, whether just pretty fabric or a patchwork kind of thing. I almost always get compliments on the backs, and that feels good.

I quilted one for a client, she used 2 quilts, one for the top and one for the back. I asked her to make the back larger, worked out great. It is posted on webshots.

No quilt police...yup, do what you like, like what you do! Just love that motto!

It seems that pieced backs are the "in" thing. I see more and more of them and they are lovely. If you like it, go for it!!

I don't have a rule, but I do have a suggestion. I recently took a quilt with a pieced panel in the back to a long arm quilter. I had intended that the panel be placed about a third of the way in but I didn't tell her so she put it in the centre of the quilt back, and she probably worked very hard to get it that way. So if you are going to take your quilt to a long arm quilter, be sure to tell her if you have any special instructions for your pieced backing.

I don't know where I heard it, but pieced backings make the quilt worth more.
Anyone hear or read anything to that effect?

of course thats ok, in fact that is WONDERFUL! it is ok if you like it...the same rules apply to the front as the back...do what you want...do it the way you want, do it the color you want...
and if you run into the quilt police...ask them if they can show you their badge (and take a pic, we all want to see it)
then ask them if it was a 'self-appointed' position or if they were elected... :)

As for as I know there are no "set" rules, and we don't allow the quilt police here :wink: So if you are happy , all is good :thumbup:

I piece alot of my backs. Last quilt I made instead of having to buy 5 1/2 yards for the back, I used everything left over from the front, one fat quarter that I had bought for the front and then found something else, same with the 2 yards I originally bought for the borders (can't make up my mind, what can I say). I also miscut the setting triangles so I just made big blcoks out of them and used them on the back. The pattern intentionally had you make an extra block (beats me why), so that went on the back too. All said and done, I needed 2 yards more for the back. It could be hard to send out to be machine quilted, buy I plan on doing this one myself so who cares. I'm also piecing left over big chunks of batting together. I think I've sewn the equivalent of two quilts on this one. I'd post pictures, but have no idea how to do that. Got to get DD to show me.

I often use fabrics from the front for the back. Whatever YOU want to do is exactly the right thing to do!! :lol: You should see the backs of a couple of quilts my grandmother made!!! Talk about using what you have on hand! :lol: They have nothing to do with the front of the quilt, and they don't even match it! :lol: :lol: I love those sweet quilts just the way they are!!! 8-)

Thank you for all of your advice and encouragement. It has made me feel confident that my quilt back will be fine. I showed it to my customer and she loved it! If she loves it, how can I not?

I think the "combo" thing is a great way to use up odds and ends of fabric on a project so I can go out and buy more fabric

I have pieced lots of my backs and love them. Do what feels right to you.

Lots of time, I use pretty sheets that match the colors in the quilt.