I love a pieced quilt back! Previous Chasing Chevrons posts:Quilt DesignPart 1 {color & fabric requirements}Half Square Triangle tutorialPart 2 {cutting your fabric & piecing your blocks}Part 3 {sewing your rows & completing your top}
Can you believe that we are already to Part 4 of our quilt along?? This week is an easy one: piecing your quilt back & basting your quilt.
If you are a little behind on finishing your top, you can catch up this week because it typically only takes a few hours to make your backing and baste your quilt.
Next to basting, making the quilt back is my least favorite part of the quilt process. I have no idea why either. So when I'm really not feeling it, I'll cheat with one of the following methods:
- Use a vintage sheet slightly larger than the size of the quilt top. I do a lot of my quilts like this not just because it's a simple way but also because vintage linens are super soft.
- Buy a good quality top slightly larger than the size of your quilt top. Make sure you prewash this sheet! Cotton linens tend to shrink more than quilting cottons. Trust me on this one...
- There are other means out there such as extra wide fabric, flannels, and even fleece but I've never tried these so I don't want to recommend them without trying them.
There are a few things to consider when choosing your backing fabric{s}. If you are less than confident in your quilting skills, avoid a dark solid that will show all of your stitches. A dark & busy print will work fine because the pattern will hide the imperfections.
Also, don't plan on using one thread color to match your top and another thread for your bobbin to match your backing. Unless your machine has perfect tension, the threads can end up sneaking through. Try to choose a backing that will work well with whatever thread you will be using on your quilt top. We will talk more about thread choices next week but I wanted to go ahead to put that out there...
On to piecing our top! I apologize in advance for the pictures... this is what happens when you sew and take pictures late at night.
The typical quilting fabric measures 42" wide. If you are unsure go ahead and measure just to be sure. Refer back to you fabric requirements for yardage needed for your quilt back.
* If you are feeling simple and do not want to make a pieced back with a contrasting fabric{s}, the easiest way to make the back is to take your backing fabric, then fold in half length-wise. Cut along the fold as shown to make two pieces.
Now that you have the two pieces, stitch these pieces together width-wise. Please note, you are not sewing the edge you just cut to create the two pieces. If this is a little confusing just lay the backing pieces out, lay your quilt top over the pieces and you will visually be able to see where to sew the two backing pieces together.*
If you are making a lap size or twin size quilt this method will work great. If you are making a queen this method will not work because the queen top will measure more than 84" wide; you will have to make a pieced back.
To make a pieced backing for a queen or any other size; there are multiple ways to go about it. Most of my pieced backs are improvisational which is code for: oh, I need the back wider or longer, more colorful, etc. But pieced backs are visually interesting and can really add to the overall quilt too.
Remember that one lonely chevron block left over from the front? It belongs on the back. :) If you have leftover scraps from the front, cut them to measure the same as your chevron block and you can also include them on the back. These scraps can vary in length as long as they are the same width as your block {5.5", 7.5", 8.5"} Little things like this tie the quilt design together nicely. Remember that this is improvisational but here's how I made my back:
Piece your left over scraps to your chevron block to make a strip that measures the width of your block. This is random so don't stress too much about the design or pattern! Press your seams open. This is important because you will be quilting over these seams, the batting, AND the quilt top. The less bulk, the better!
Cut your main backing fabric as described * above* .
Lay your back out as shown; your pieced strip will be in between your large pieces to create that pieced look. Stitch 1 to 2 and then that section to 3. Press seams open. If your pieced strip measures wide, don't worry as this can be trimmed down to the same width as the rest of the quilt back.
Done!
Your quilt back will measure wide and a little long. Don't worry about that because you always want your backing wider and longer than your top to allow for movement when quilting. There's nothing worse than your backing being just shy of your quilt size after it's quilted. Trust me on this one too... ;)
Now it's time to baste your quilt! Make sure your quilt top and back are pressed well. There are two main methods for basting a quilt. I have used both and prefer basting spray. I know that some hate spray for various reasons so if you do, just follow the pin basting method. I'm linking to my basting tutorial here because I'm lazy efficient.
If you are wondering about what kind of batting to use, I also talk about that in the basting tutorial.
This is one of those steps that makes a lot more sense as you apply the instructions hands-on. As always, if you have any questions please comment here, post in our Flickr group, or email me.
I'm also linking this tutorial up for Fabric Tuesday!