Did you know that pieced backings are a characteristic feature on a modern quilt? Well now you do….Me too!
Yikes. I guess I have to figure this out, because over the last couple days, I spent an unacceptable amount of time muttering to myself and to anyone who would listen, “I hate pieced quilt backings!” and YES, I was making a pieced backing for a largish flimsy thats going off to get quilted in the next couple weeks.
Now here’s the thing… I don’t hate pieced backings at all, I love ’em. I really really do. I especially love pieced backings on quilts that other people make…Unfortunately I cannot seem to figure out how to make one properly. I struggle with every aspect of putting together a pieced backing.
Obviously I need to do some homework. So I called on Mr. Google. Imagine my delight when I found a FREE class on Craftsy by the exceptional Elizabeth Hartman called Creative Quilt Backs. This one is definitely a keeper. Pinterest is another great resource. A quick search turned up a gazillion links to ideas about how to piece the backing on your quilt. Check out this blog by Holly called Bits of Everything. She offers a whole bunch of ideas for simple pieced backings–I’m definitely going to use one of these ideas when I get to the backing step on my next project.
Sadly it’s too late for the backing that caused me so much grief earlier this week. Here is a sneak peek…
So how about you? Do you make pieced backings for your quilts? Do you have a formula for making yours?
Freckled Fox Quiltery 
I rarely piece backings, but my go-to method to make things stretch was adding a strip of pieced bits down the back. I started a Pinterest board to keep ideas on because when I do need to piece a backing, my mind goes blank.
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I don’t enjoy piecing backs, but I do it from time to time. Depends on the project. I do a lot of kids quilts for charity and I back them with fleece, which tends to be wider, so I don’t have to piece those as often. I like the look of a pieced back, though! I think yours in the photo looks nice!
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Hi Velda … I’ve pieced backs when I, for some unknown reason, failed to buy the appropriate amount for the back. One time, I went wild and pieced the back of a queen size quilt … only to find out that 2 large pieces that were used were needed for the top of another quilt. GROAN! All of this to say, I’ll piece it if I have to, but if I don’t, I won’t. Happy Quilting! (or piecing) 🙂
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I try to include some element of the design from the front of my quilt into the back. A quilt with lots of half square triangles on the front might have some really large half square triangles running through the back…as large as my scraps will allow. I find that although my quilts are generally pretty traditional, the backs can look pretty modern.
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Almost all my quilt backs are pieced. I love pieced backings!
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Velda: I piece my backings all the time because I’m cheap LOL! I never thought about it for two seconds…now I wonder if I’ve been doing it wrong…off to research your links….
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Hi Velda,
I have not yet pieced any backing other than the occasional seam up the back of two matching pieces. I pretty much go out of my way to avoid piecing the backings, so I will watch your comments to see what others say. ~smile~ Roseanne
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