Backing help needed!

I have a slight dilemma and not sure what the best way is to resolve it. I have a square snail quilt that needs backed. The problem? The width of the backing fabric like a couple inches too narrow. I have plenty of the backing fabric so fabric is not a problem, but I don't want to waste it. I though of cutting a 6 in strip WOF to the selvage edge of what I have already cut, but I think I would still have a small area to patch but I suppose I could cover it with the label. What should I do? I would really like to get working on quilting this quilt!

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Not sure I understand. But here is a site that offers ideas for piecing a back.

http://www.quiltology.com/how-to-piece-a-quilt-back/

I once saw how they cut the fabric on a diagonal and then stitched the 'straight' edges together and it made a larger backing. I can't find it now...but it was a different idea. Anyone know what I am talking about??? Never mind...see post below.

HA..I found it...

http://www.flynnquilt.com/media/uploads/2009/04/08/files/diagonalpb1103.pdf

It seems sorta complicated. But when he did it in person, it made sense! maybe you can find a video or something.

I have used the John Flynn diagonal method for a backing and it works great. I think it would be perfect for your situation, Anita. It isn't all that hard to figure out and it saved me about a yard of fabric. I had purchased 2 yards not knowing I would want it for a backing. When I finished my quilt I would have needed 3 yards to do a traditional backing. By using the Flynn method I could get the backing out of the 2 yard I had with very little left for waste.

The part that really irritates me is that I am just oh so close! I am printing this out and hopefully I can figure it out.

Bearfoot...did you need a large space to lay it all out? it seems like it would take a lot of room to 'organize' it.

I used my livingroom floor so I could lay the fabric out flat and mark the diagonal.

Anita M. wrote:

The part that really irritates me is that I am just oh so close! I am printing this out and hopefully I can figure it out.

How close? Would the left over space be covered by a large label or an orphan block?

I figured out how to do the back finally! I think the diagonal thing scared me. I had extra snail fabric, so I cut 2-5" strips from it and sewed them together. Then I cut the other fabric that was just short in width in half and sewed the 5" strip between them. It worked! I will take a pic after dinner and post it. The quilt itself is 41.5" square. See what I mean about being close?

well, if fabric was ACTUALLY 44" wide, you wouldn't have had a problem, would you have?! That is frustrating!!

Glad you figured it out.

Here is the back
for this quilt

I see my snail block!

That is really cute Anita and the back looks great.

Very very cute! LOVE your bug fabric. And each snail is wonderful!

I actually like the way the backing is pieced.

TX, which is your block? Mine is the middle of the bottom row and mom's is the middle of the top row.

Backing looks great.

I use the John Flynn diagonal method. I use it so much, that I put the formula in Excel so I just enter the length and width of quilt and the width of the fabric and the formula I entered calculates how much fabric I need.

Great job, Anita...I like the pieced back! You did great.

Luvsquilting...I never thought about putting that into Excel...what a great idea...I don't use Excel much but I bet I could get my DH to help me!

Looks great anita, I have often been a tad short and I usually either add each side with a co-ordinating colour or even binding colour or I cut down centre and add a strip in the middle, have done it top and bottom before too.

I dont know the john flynn method, will have to take a look

InsufferableBratt wrote:

I actually like the way the backing is pieced.

TX, which is your block? Mine is the middle of the bottom row and mom's is the middle of the top row.

Mine is the top left (when you are looking at it) The one with the crazy antennas.
I love the shell fabrics on ya'lls. Really looks cool.

Ooh, I really like yours, TX! Mom didn't like that I refused to put antlers on mine. I told her he had down antlers, kinda like Buckeye has down ears.

It looks like you found the perfect solution for this quilt Anita. I see a LOT of pieced backs on quilts lately. Often times they do a strip just like you did.

The Flynn method is very clever if your quilt isn't too big.

InsufferableBratt wrote:

Ooh, I really like yours, TX! Mom didn't like that I refused to put antlers on mine. I told her he had down antlers, kinda like Buckeye has down ears.

I love that--down antlers. Maybe when he is really happy his antlers go up! :lmao

(Oh my, that doesn't sound good at all does it. )

Only if you have a dirty mind! LOL!

I love that--down antlers. Maybe when he is really happy his antlers go up! :lmao

(Oh my, that doesn't sound good at all does it. lmao lmao lmao )



Oh my...

we have a documentary here and it shows snails being ummm, errrr, amorous and well, their antenna do go up when they are 'happy' laura thinks its soooooooo cute

Anita - what a wonderful quilt!! and the backing looks just perfect! Are you done with snail quilts or are you making more?

Thank you, friends, for the johnflynn link and the excel suggestion - I printed out the instructions and am going to see if my somewhat-math-challenged brain can make sense of them. Then I'll put it in excel for future use.