For a scrappy quilt, I can't think of a better back than a pieced one, especially with well-chosen fabrics.
For a scrappy quilt, I can't think of a more difficult back than a pieced one, even with well-chosen fabrics. It is almost like making a second quilt except with larger pieces. There's all that cutting, squaring, sewing, and pressing to be sure the pieces lay flat. Not to mention the jigsaw aspect of getting all the pieces to fit together. Then, one wants the straight lines to be parallel with the edges of the quilt which requires plenty of care to align the quilt (without being able to see the back and top adjacent to each other because there's a layer of batting between). And if you're a hand quilter there are those extra seams to contend with and quilt through.
And yet, I usually go with a scrappy back because I have plenty of fabric and will never use all of it before I die unless I begin using it for more than quilt blocks -- even large blocks with large pieces. And I like how they look when finished.
This back (above) is not exactly symmetrical but almost. I tried to carefully align the back and front so no long seams were aligned and so that the dark green center was centered on the quilt. But I won't really know how it came out until I've finished quilting it and cut away the edges.
I intend to use embroidery floss for the hand quilting. I have it on good authority that three strands are sturdy, durable, and quilt easily. I hope that's true for me, too.
It's been a few months since I've pulled needle and thread through a quilt in a hoop. I'm looking forward to hand quilting a few minutes every morning or when I sit to watch TV or visit.
As far as my ambivalence toward pieced backs? If this quilt back turns out well, I'll be one step closer to loving them.
I'm linking this post to
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrap Bag
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times
Thanks for hosting, ladies.
--Nancy.
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I think embroidery floss is a great idea for quilting! It seems like it would be less stress than perle cotton. And it will be beautiful on these blocks. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Monica. I hope the embroidery floss works. I hope it doesn't tangle!
DeleteI'm a lover of pieced quilt backs but I do agree with you that making them can add a lot of fussing about to the process of creating a quilt!
ReplyDeleteIt's true, Allison. And sometimes, when we've finally finished the front we're ready to get on with the quilting. Pieced backs with large pieces aren't quite so challenging as with smaller pieces of fabric.
DeleteThe least liked part of the quilting to me is the squaring up with layers and backing cloth. I'm hopeless at it truthfully and have to force myself to face the task. Perhaps I am only meant to work with small projects. Thank you for broaching this important topic; I enjoyed reading your views of it.
ReplyDeleteI think all of us have some aspect of quilting that we like a little less than the rest, Jocelyn. I figure that if I just keep at it maybe I'll get better and it will be easier.
DeleteI hope it goes well for you, Nancy. Are you doing big stitch? I've never tried that, but seems like the floss would work. I only pieced backs if I am machine quilting because when doing small hand stitches I don't like running into seams that I had forgotten were there, and I can't see.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet. Yes, big stitch. I don't know how big yet but definitely bigger than a small quilting stitch. Running into seams on the back is one of the frustrations with pieced backs for me. When I run into one of those seams I have to do one stitch at a time and sometimes use a gripper to help me pull the needle through. When considering a whole quilt I suppose it's not such a big thing when there are a few extra seams but still, it slows the process.
DeleteI love this scrappy quilt! I hope it all goes together reasonably straight! I often use pieced backs and it is kind of tricky to get it lined up with the front! Good luck
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth. I think I have it nearly straight but of course I won't know for sure until it's done (in which case it will be too late to do anything about it!).
DeleteI do love the extra character of a pieced back & it is sooo good to use stash for backing, but it does take a bit more time, adds seams, & such a bear to line up! I have tried several ways of lining up, but the best is with a friend's help:)
ReplyDeleteCurious how the floss is quilting,,
Oh, I agree with you, Heidi, about the extra character of pieced backs. I haven't started the quilting yet. I'm still trying to decide how to quilt -- Baptist fan, diagonal through the center of the small squares, or outline stitch. I hope to begin on Saturday.
DeleteI'm sure I'll write a post about the floss experiment after I try it for a few blocks.
I am with you there sister! I always think I should use up matching fabrics for the back, but by the time I am finished with a quilt top, I am FINISHED with it. I don't want to have to piece another entire quilt top for the back! Even something simple is too much - I'm ready to move on to another project altogether. I have pieced backs on a few of my quilts, but not nearly as often as I could have.
ReplyDeleteI'm chuckling, Teresa. Yes, I'm ready to just keep going and layer by the time I finish a top! I keep going back and forth every time I finish a quilt. I rarely have enough fabric for a whole back so I know I'll have to piece some part of it, even if it's just one seam somewhere. Still, I deliberate. Using up the fabric usually wins out.
DeleteI personally LOVE a pieced backing for many reasons. It adds interest to the backing, it uses up more stash, and sometimes you get a 2 for the price of 1 quilt. Of course, I don't obsess about matching things up on the back, I just roll with the punches.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Kevin. I think it must be a personality thing, whether we obsess or not about having the seams parallel to the edges of the quilt. I'm trying to overcome my tendencies toward perfection (with some small amount of success). But yes, I agree that it's fun to have something interesting on the back side of a quilt.
DeleteThanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts on pieced backs.
Front AND back both look GREAT!!! I'll be looking forward to seeing the quilting that you do on this quilt. Happy stitching!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generous compliment, Joyful Quilter. I'm still deliberating about the quilting and hope to begin on Saturday.
DeleteLove your choice of backing for this quilt! I, too, like to piece backings to use up extra fabric.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loretta. I'm beginning to think there are more of us who piece backs than I realized. It makes the flip side of a quilt a little surprise and a lot more fun. I think some quilts "call for" a pieced back and maybe others really request something less fun, maybe a little more formal. I don't think I've made any of those quilts yet, though.
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts.