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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