Pieced quilt backings

It's been ages since I allowed myself to just play. And you can play with a backing. It doesn't need to be perfect. There's no pattern to follow. It just needs to be bigger than the quilt top.

Anything goes on the back. Use leftover pieces from the top, less than perfect blocks that didn't make the cut for the front and fabric from your stash. Favourite pieces or pieces you've used in multiple projects and never want to sew with again.

A while ago I remade a few blocks from Sarah's Sampler. I often remake part or all of a sample if it's been a while since I made the original and need to refresh my memory for a class.  I had a fleeting idea to remake the entire quilt but then thought of all the projects I needed to make.

But now I had nine blocks. I didn't want to put the blocks in a box only to forgot about them nor did I want them in the way every time I opened a cupboard.

The best solution was to make a mini quilt. I plan to hang it on the gate (weather permitting) at my next pop-up shop.

Here it is after it was quilted by Rose of Pandora Quilting.

It hasn't been trimmed and you can see the batting and a glimpse of the backing along the side edges.

I asked Rose to centre the top on the back.

 

The black square shows the placement of the top.

I've learnt from experience to keep the seams on the back away from the edge of the top. It created extra bulk when I sewed the binding on and folded it over to the back.

You can see I've kept the seams away from the top edge.

Now my dilemma is what to do with the pieced strips when I trim the backing!

 

The back can also be a place to repeat the block used on the front, changing its size and the layout.

 I love how simple this quilt back is, in fact I now prefer it to the front!

Two fabrics, big blocks (I used 12 inch Drunkards Path templates).

I cut and pieced the blocks. Then calculated the width and length of the borders including the allowance for the quilter.

One quilt, two tops!

Just one more reason to love pieced backs.

 

If you haven't tried piecing a quilt back why not give it a go!