toverly

I piece all my backs since my favorite size is 48 - 54 wide x 72 long. I like to do a vertical seam off side, not exactly in the center. If it is "off", no one can tell if it is meant to be off. Nothing exact, either 10 or 12 from one side, or roughly a third of the back. If you try to center it, everyone can tell if it is not centered. I use either leftover blocks in a column or strips or squares of the front fabrics. In my mind, I can think that if it needs repaired, someone can take a fabric from the back with the same wear and washings and fix the front.

gingerd

I don't have a plan in mind. I just whack and lay the piece on the floor. My only guideline is that I try not to put the same fabric next to each other. I continue this until I have a back the size I need. Once I have all of the pieces whacked and on the floor I then sew it altogether!

117becca

i just piece the back w/ a vertical seam - not down the middle.

caspharm

I've done pieced backs and when I do, I usually try to piece my label in the back.

jmoore

that's what I just did on my first pieced backing... I had no trouble with it on the longarm machine. I can't believe I haven't done pieced backs before.

Jeanne S

I usually do some piecing on all of the backs of my quilts. I like the way it looks, almost making it reversible. And, I read somewhere that including some pieces of various fabrics from the front on the back will also give fabric for future repairs of the front if needed. Here are a few examples of some of the backs of quilts I have done that may spark an idea for you:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]544744[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544745[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544746[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544747[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544748[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544749[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544750[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544751[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544752[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]544753[/ATTACH]

IngeMK

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t148395.html

love 2 sew

Thanks so much for all the eye candy, ideas & suggestions.
Joan

quiltingbuddy

There are some really good examples here. And I like the ideas from Jan in VA. I recently started piecing my backings also and really anything goes. If you have extra blocks use them on the back in any way you like. I've even used 2 or 4 large pieces and just done 4 quadrants. I have no trouble getting them lined up with the center in the exact center. Have fun with it.

quiltingshorttimer

if you are putting on a long arm, the seam usually works best if goes horizonally instead of vertical (think about rolling up paper after you put a string around the middle and then adding more--you always get a bit of a bump and the outside edges tend to crinkle and not lay flat--same with your quilt back). also, if you are not using blocks that are likely not to stretch cause of the seams in them, but instead using larger pieces of fabric, you get the best results if the larger pieces are all going the same grain--i.e. lenghtwise or crosswise, instead of a mix. Lenghtwise grain does not have as much stretch in it as crosswise does. sometimes with larger chunks of fabric mixed grains, you are more likely to get some droop in pieces that it causes puckers and tucks.