Title: Quilt backs
Post by: buickjim on December 31, 2007, 09:22:46 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do any of you ever piece a back. I'm discovering that coming up with large chunks of fabric for the back of a quilt is a challenge. The challenge, of course, is finding something you like, relates to the quilt and is affordable.
The back of Alex's quilt needed to be just slightly wider than 2 widths of fabric (about 90 inches) and so I couldn't see buying another 2-1/2 yards to fill up 10 inches, so I cut up the leftover fabric into 15 inch long strips and made a center section 15 inches wide by 2-1/2 yards long and put it between the two panels. Looked great and added some interest to the back.
This next quilt (same pattern as Alex's), I made some nine-patches that turned out not to work in the border so I'm going to alternate them down the center between the two panels.
Note to Long Arm Quilters, do pieced backs get in the way of your work?
--Jim
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: golo on December 31, 2007, 11:29:35 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BJ, I was in a world swap of 6" sqs a few years ago, so I sewed them together and used them as the back of my applecore quilt...so either side looks great... and what memories... I buy fleece alot for my backing...my gks love it because it is so soft and it works well, washes up well... and its nice and warm for us northern people... :santa_afro:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Ruthann on December 31, 2007, 11:40:14 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Golo, if you use fleece as a background do you use batting as well?
BJ, I have the same challenge and think that using some piecing for the backing is a great idea!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: golo on December 31, 2007, 01:09:58 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I normally do not use batting, but you can... :santa_afro:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on December 31, 2007, 01:19:03 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim, I have a Viking Megaquilter (which is a short arm quilting machine) and pieced backs do not bother it at all.
When you are going to put a pieced back on a machine, DO NOT press your seam allowances open. Press them to one side because they are much stronger that way and the fabric gets pulled rather tight on those rollers. You do not want just the thread holding the pieces together.
I do not have access to any wide fabric around here so all my backs on larger quilts are pieced.
Does anyone know the link to the demo where you cut your backing on the diagonal and re-sew to make it wider. Think it was on Simply Quilts once but I do not remember the man's name who demo'ed the technique.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: quiltermarynel on December 31, 2007, 01:42:16 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The diagonal backing was from John Flynn, who brings his engineering expertise to quilting with delightful results. (He was 'downsized' and in helping his wife with quilting issues developed a whole new career..)
Anyone can get wide backing, it it is wanted. Just go to one of the on-line quilting supply stores. The selection is getting better all the time. I got a fantastic batik backing from Hancock's_Paduccah.com a bit ago. In general, the wider fabrics are cheaper per square yard than their narrower cousins, so I don't worry about getting too much of it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: BearFoot on December 31, 2007, 03:40:34 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a link to the John Flynn website. The info about the diagonal backing is about 1/2 down the page!
http://www.flynnquilt.com/freepattern.htmlI have used this method when I accidentally bought only 2 yards of fabric when I needed 3. I pieced the back with this method and had a couple inches to spare all around the quilt. My LAer said it was great..no trouble at all because the seam never stacks on top of itself!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Merry Bee on December 31, 2007, 09:03:19 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That is a good idea, with the diagonal seam on back. I have pieced the back, and usually go for some contrast. It is pretty and adds to the fun. I also make a pillowcase out os scraps, and extra block segements, to store the quilt in. My daughter loves those. They match the quilt and she likes to spot the quilt she is hunting for easily. She puts a pillow in the bag with she uses the quilt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Litup100 on January 01, 2008, 01:15:36 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've used the John Flynn diagonally pieced back method. It works great. I saw it on an F & P show. Then when I wanted to use the technique, I looked it up on his website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: missmommy on January 03, 2008, 08:43:14 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's an excellent site for fat backs...can't remember it here at work, but I'll add it later.
http://www.christianlanequilters.com/home.htmlHere it is... had a senior moment but then I remembered.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Pookie on January 06, 2008, 02:16:16 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been fortunate enough that most of my quilts have fleece inside for lining my mother in law worked in a factory with these fabrics and gave me masses in hideous colours so they are all inside my quilts as to backing I prefer my backs to be one piece of fabric most of the time impossible... so I do what you did Jim and have a square in the centre and sashings around it to make the correct backing size... this also tends to make them reversable...but admittably more work..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 06, 2008, 07:17:52 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow Pookie, you certainly were lucky to get all that fleece. And hey, who cares what color it is if it is inside.
That is a great way to utilize a windfall. :santa_smiley:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Pookie on January 06, 2008, 02:43:55 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tx MaryQuilts most unfortunaltely my stash of fleece is nearly gone but I have no complaints it has made many a quilt or wall hanging...now I will have to save up and purchase the batting I am lucky though I live near Birch they supply all craft products - needles,batting,lamps etc to the quilting stores and I am able to buy these items wholesale it makes an amazing difference in price... I brought myself a new cutting matt quite large and saved myself from memory about $35 dollars...so no great complaints here..LOL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Merry Bee on January 06, 2008, 03:59:17 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It gives me an idea, though. I could do a Marynel style quilt as you go on an old fleece throw I have. It is our favorite, but I am ashamed to say how old it is. Think of the beauty of all new front and back sewn in rows over it, sew and flip style, then a binding.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: finisher on January 06, 2008, 05:30:44 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOH!!! I had a quilt I wanted to get basted this afternoon. The width was 90". I remembered the John Flynn method and thought I'd try it. BUT there is a rule to his method! The quilt width can only be about 1 1/2 times the width of the fabric. For 45"ish that translates to no more than 66" or so. You could use 60" wide with the diagonal seam though. I ended up piecing the back in three sections.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: quiltermarynel on January 06, 2008, 06:06:00 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm glad that you mentioned the rule. You probably saved several people from messing it up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: buickjim on January 07, 2008, 05:24:09 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finisher, I was in a similar situation. my top was 82" and I needed about 10 more inches beyond the two backing panels. So I used some of the left over fabric to make a striped section 10" wide and the 90" long. Got the needed extra width and didn't have to buy anything extra.
You could also sew the two panels you have together then cut them diagonally afterwards and rejoin them. That would work depending on how much fabric you have.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Litup100 on January 15, 2008, 07:26:49 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the purposes of the John Flynn method is so that the seam is neither vertical nor horizontal. If you put it on a frame, the thickness of the seam is a problem. If you have a quilt that is wider than 2 widths of fabric can accommodate, you just need to add a strip between the two triangles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: golo on January 16, 2008, 07:54:22 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice little tip....
After basting your quilt, roll the backing edges over the batting and pin to the quilt. This will enclose the excess batting and help to defray snagging or picking up unwanted stray threads.
read this somewhere.... thought it could be helpful...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: quiltermarynel on January 16, 2008, 09:16:04 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are NOT quilting with a long arm or a frame, the rolling Golo mentioned also keeps the extra edge stuff from getting caught underneath and making a general mess that is hard to undo and very frustrating.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Quilt backs
Post by: Litup100 on January 18, 2008, 06:36:32 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm one that doesn't care if there are seams in the back. I use a modified quilt as you go method. I couldn't find a good book about it in time to actually read directions, so made it up myself.
1. I take the row of blocks and stitch them together.
2. Sandwich that row with batting and backing. The batting and backing should be larger that the row of blocks.
3. Quilt that row of blocks. I free motion on my regular sewing machine.
4. Stitch together the next row of blocks.
5. Put the 2nd row of blocks right sides together on top of the first row of blocks.
6. Cut backing larger than the row of blocks, i.e. if the row is 12.25 (finished block would be 12) x 48, but the backing about 54 x 14 or 15".
7. Put the backing right sides together on top of the backing for the first row. You can extend it further. No need to really match perfectly.
8. Pin together. The batting and backing will stick out beyond the row of blocks. That's okay.
9. Sew together.
10. Trim the backing, but peel back the batting and don't trip that just yet. You should trim the backing for row 1 and row 2 at the same time.
11. Trim the batting, but leave an inch or so, but you want it to be fairly even.
12. Now cut the batting for the sandwich of row 2. It should be about 14 or 15 inches.
13. Butt the batting sticking out from row 1 and the batting cut for row 2. Take a 3 or 4 inch strip of VERY light weight iron on interfacing and place it on the butted seam. Gently and gingerly press the interfacing. Did I say Gently? Yes. You don't want to compact the batting.
14. Now smooth the Row 2 backing and Row 2 blocks over the batting and baste.
15. Now you are ready to free motion Row 2. Position Row 1 to the left of your machine and you don't ever have the huge bulk of the entire quilt to fuss with.
11. Now trim the
Home 
