When I have enough fabric leftover from sewing a quilt top, I like to piece a backing for it (instead of buying new yardage for a backing). I finished a mystery quilt top on the weekend and then sewed a backing for it from the remains. Only one of the pieces isn't in the quilt top - it was a piece of yardage that was supposed to be a border but it didn't really suit the finished project.
Many quilt judges at the fall fair level dislike these backings and would dock my quilt some marks for using this. Some prefer the design to be more planned/organized, and not be so random looking.
But that is what I enjoy making, so that is what I'm doing!
Do you enjoy making scrappy backings for your quilts?
16 comments:
Definitely!! Sometimes i plan to make a reversible quilt...with patterns on both sides; but mostly I like to use up scrappy pieces and actually i like how they look..
hugs, Julierose
no I don't like pieced backings - just my preference - it makes more seams to go through and I rather have a wide back. I have done it on a couple though to use up a few things here and there - like on a back of a picnic quilt I used some ugly fabrics that I knew I really didn't feel like using and it would be resting on the top of the dirty picnic tables in the woods so why not there.
What a terrific idea. In these post pandemic times everyone needs to economize. Not to mention it's a great way to use up all those scraps we have. As far judges docking you points for your frugal but beautiful efforts, maybe they need to rethink their scoring or perhaps open a new category. Peace and blessings.
I am not a pieced backer. After working so hard to make a beautiful quilt, it just seems counterintuitive to put something less on the back. So I guess a planned pieced back would be more up my alley. I know it has become popular to use extra blocks and extra fabric, I just think it should be cohesive, my opinion, but there are not really quilt police, so we all should do what we can affor and what makes us happy. Dotti in CT
I love scrappy backings, but discovered that I don’t really enjoy making them myself. So I’m always glad when someone shares the ones they’ve made. Beautiful!
Any back that will do the job. I have used new and old sheets...pieced , striped and patched backs.
I've been making pieced backings in an effort to use up my fabric stash. I make my quilts for my pleasure and to give as gifts. I'm not trying to please the quilt police. Quilts used to be backed with muslin. To each is own, I say, there's no right or wrong. The longarmers I know don't like pieced backings, so those who send quilts out to be finished, might check with the longarmer to see if they have a preference.
Pat
If it's going to be LAQ, then I'll do a scrappy back. If I'm going to be hand quilting, I want a single wide back with no extra seams to worry about. I do try with my wide backs to choose one that relates well to the top.
I will sometimes use large leftover pieces in piecing the back, but I am too impatient at that point to spend much time piecing a back. I can smell a finish and just want it DONE! But I love to see the clever ways you and others piece backings. ;)
Sometimes I do, or incorporate any left over blocks. But I have to admit that with my Libra brain, the design has to be balanced and centered, otherwise it screams a me! I just cant do random.
I have a bonanza of 6-7 yard pieces of fabric in my stash so I don't usually go for a scrappy back when I can move out yardage off the spreadsheet ;) Still I like them and I like the idea of pulling in the odd rejected block from the front so there are no hurt feelings among the blocks. lol
I like to make pieced backings for smaller quilts, and am just finishing one up for my Halloween Jubilee quilt. It's like having a reversible quilt! I'm sorry the judges at the fair don't like them - do they say why in their notes?
I love scrappy backs for quilts, they're the best. I will admit that I don't get scrappy for the back of a quilt I know I'll be entering in a show, but for all other quilts, I think they're wonderful. It makes the quilt more interesting in my view, and there's nothing bad about using up some fabric that would otherwise just sit around in the stash.
Such a great talking point hon!
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)
I love to use up my stash in a pieced backing as it makes me feel connected to my mother who made scrappy quilts from all kinds of fabrics. I dislike how the quilting world has evolved, in fact I didn't rejoin my guild this year as I just cannot listen to another art quilter. I have strong views that art quilters are not quilters at all, they just use fabric (and paint it and acid treat it etc). In my opinion quilts are meant to keep a person warm whether on the sofa or on the bed. Anything else is art like painted images we frame. Oh well, this was a lot of venting but to everyone reading this please keep in mind IT IS MY OPINION ONLY - NOT STATEMENTS OF FACTS. You have opinions as well which I respect.
What a wonderful backing and love using scraps to piece the backs as well. I think that is so interesting that some judges would dock a quilt because of the backing. I think it adds character and makes it more interesting. Have a great weekend.
I almost always make scrappy backings for my quilts. I just don't want to buy a large enough pc of fabric to cover the whole back plus it's such a great way to use up older fabrics that don't need to go on the front of a quilt! lol
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