Okay, here is my "mindless" project after the silk quilt. I can never just do anything easy. I am determined to use all stash on this. I got this collection a couple years ago for I don't know what. It had the panel of the animals and then 1/2 yard cuts of all the others. I cut 2 1/2" strips for the rail fence. Now comes the border and backing. Should I do a scrappy border of the 2 1/2" strips? Or should I use some of the ugly tan or brown? And I have never done a scrappy backing; how should I cut up the fabric for a scrappy backing? Why can't I just sew a bunch of strips together and let it go at that? Me....nah.... :roll:

i always sew left over blocks and pieces from the front of my quilt into the back i just keep adding pieces together until big enough for backing

Thanks, that's what I thought I would do, if I can ever get off this board :roll: :-(

I would not do a scrappy border, as I think it would add too much busyness.

One idea for a back that I really liked was slashing a plain fabric diagonally (not corner to corner, but somewhere in-between) and inserting a pieced strip. Added a lot of pizzaz, and you could use your scraps for the pieced strip.

The only problem is that I only have enough of those ugly brown, tan, ivory pieces. Maybe they won't be blah and ugly if there is a scrappy strip. Good idea! Thanks, think I will try that. If I make the border from one of those from the collection, I will have to piece it because the pieces aren't long enough. Oh, well, lunch and get busy. Thanks for the help everyone!

I'd lean toward the warm colors for the back, red/rust/gold. Lovin' that gold plaid and you didn't use it on the front. Nice balance for the blues on the front and still masculine. Very nice so far. Let us see it when done please.

Since you said nothing can be easy. I would use your scraps to make another quilt top the same size and make a reversible quilt (possibly flying geese strips or simple blocks, even another rail fence design). Using the dark tan as a border so if you bind it with binding or roll the edges (not sure what they call it) it will look good for both sides.

I think the brown would make a good border - it will pick up both the browns and golds from the prints. Then scrap to your heart's content on the back.

I think that the tan, brown and Ivory fabrics are lovely! In fact as the theme seems to revolve around woodland scenes, perhaps they are the best colours? I like all of them...how about using them all or a couple of them to make multiple borders? They would go so well with the green that is already there. Perhaps the brown and tan or brown and ivory if you like the flying geese pattern as a border or part of the border and you could frame the flying geese strip with the 'odd one out' colour....

I have it almost all quilted, will post pics tomorrow of what I did. I'm not a flying geese person, too many steps to suit me. Maybe some day. Haven't decided on binding yet, have to see what it looks like quilted first.