A Little Birdie Told Me... all about Quilt Backs

Do you think about the back of your quilt?

Do you buy extra fabric at the start for the back?... or wait till you are done?

The back of a quilt can be forgotten space... but it doesn't have to be!  You can make a simple quilt back from one fabric pieced large enough or you can get creative.  I've done a range of things with the backs of my quilts.

The number one thing I do these days is that I piece my label into the back. Unfortunately quilts do get lost sometimes or even stolen.  Thieves will remove the label if possible to hide the original creator's identity.  By piecing the label into the backing & then having the quilting done it is impossible to remove the label without making a hole in the back of the quilt.

All of the quilts shown below were quilted by Angela Walters.  If you send your quilts to a long arm quilter check with your quilter first as some do not like working with pieced backs.  I try my best to make my backs have "wiggle room" in regards to size and never place my label too close to an edge where it might end up getting cut off.

I have a full tutorial on my blog for printing your own custom labels with spoonflower.  By printing my labels ahead of time I always have them when needed & they already have all my basic contact info on them.

I picked the photo above on purpose to show you that the fabric from spoonflower is not a white white.  The fabric on the sides of the label is the white from Pure Organic.  When the label is not placed next to a white white fabric you don't see the yellow hint as much.

The back of Pink Chopsticks.  I used a mix of Quilter's Linen and some of the extra fabric I had from making the quilt top.  It's scrappy and was a good solution since I didn't have enough of any one fabric. 

The back of Blue Chopsticks is simple.  I put a small frame of Quilter's Linen around my label and pieced the rest of the back from one fabric.

I went with a horizontal stripe across the back of Hugs & Kisses.  The quilt is also bound in the same teal as the backing.  In order to make sure I'd have enough for binding I cut the binding fabric first and set it aside.

I made a second Blue Chopsticks for the Robert Kaufman Quilt Market booth.  This time I chose a lighter print and did a horizontal stripe of the blue dot. I also framed the label in teal. {Now I just need to get this bound asap!}

 

The back of Carnival is very scrappy.  I used a mix of the extra binding, background, layer cake & border fabrics to create a blue & white mix.

 

The back of Unwind is one of my favorites.  I just adore this green print.  I added a stripe of blue and white that also happens to match my logo perfectly.

Kona Crush is a favorite fabric of mine & I used it here on most of the back.  The label is framed in scraps from the front.

This is the back of Plaid Parade.  I framed the label in the same brown used as sashing on the front and put it into a horizontal white bar.

Using scraps from the front I created a coin strip for Off the Rail.  I placed my label somewhat in the middle of the strip & picked two fabrics for the remainder of the back.

Robert Kaufman also wanted Off the Rail for their booth so with the help of Candi I now have twin quilts... or the fronts are twins at least.  For the second Off the Rail back I framed the label in a green print and offset it to the side in a horizontal stripe.

The last back I have to share today is my Raspberry Dessert quilt.  I wanted something simple but still wanted the label pieced in and somewhat near the center.  I decided on a light pink vertical stripe with a bit of detail near the label.

I know making pieced quilt backs can be a scary thing for those that don't like math, but I promise it isn't that hard.  I'm almost done with a tutorial that includes a few ways to make one and it'll be posted on my blog this weekend.

While I finish the tutorial... I want to know what you do right now?

Do you piece your backs?

Do you piece your labels into them?

Do you do something totally different that I haven't mentioned?

Let me know!

Also... If you are coming to Quilt Market be sure to stop by Booth #2644 to see these quilts in person!

--

I'll be back on May 13th with A Little Birdie Told Me!

Volume 2 post 8 

{ Julie Herman blogs at Jaybird Quilts }  

Comments

[Diane Harris]

This is a great post, Julie! I piece my backs, too and will have to consider doing labels like you do them. It's a temptation near the end of a project to punt and not do something that requires extra work, but I'm trying because I like interesting backs!

[kate C.]

I just did my first pieced back a month ago! I just sort of winged it and it worked out, so I'd love to see a tutorial or some suggestions! I also like your idea of putting the label into the quilt back. I am quilting an old Grandmother's Garden quilt top that my husband's grandma made years ago, and was just thinking about the back. I'll probably do a pretty plain back, because that's what she would have done, had she finished it. However, putting the label with information about her and me into the back of the quilt would be a perfect way to make sure that important information stays with the quilt.

[rachel griffith]

you make me want to start piecing my backs.

and so that second chopsticks and off the rail...they whispered to me and said "hey can we come live with you after market????"
i just wanted you to know.
:P

[Kerrie]

I love your pieced backs! I have yet to do one but I have 3 or 4 quilt tops ready to go and I hope to try something with the back of those. I only recently started labling my quilts (on the combined advice of yourself and Rachel at ps I quilt). I appliqued on a label that I made by hand stitching with perl cotton. Then I quilting over top of that. I was very pleased with how it turned out!

[Melissa Corry]

I so wish i was coming to quilt market so I could come visit you and see these quilts. Your work is stunning!!! I vary on my backs. Sometimes I piece them, sometimes I just use a solid print. I haven't done labels before but it is something I am thinking about looking into seriously :) Thanks for the great ideas :)

[Marcia W.]

Do you piece your backs? Only if I do not have enough fabric or no wide back.
Do you piece your labels into them? Shame on me - no labels
Do you do something totally different that I haven't mentioned? My preference is wide back or same fabric if pieced. Looking forward to the tutorial so can learn more. Your backs look so cute.

[Sara]

Over time I have pieced my backs more and more to the point where they are now almost as intricate on both sides. Since I mainly straight line quilt I set my designs on point so I don't have to align my fronts and my backs.

Although sometimes, when I just want a project finished already, I'll use a single fabrics, or if it's not big enough, a single fabric with a diagonal line of something else through it (again, so I don't have to align it properly)

[90milemissy]

I have been quilting for a year now and have pieced almost all my backs. If I don't piece them I like a solid back that the
long arm quilting really shows up on. Black is stunning done like that. I did just take 3 quilts to my long arm quilter yesterday.
One had a pieced back, one had a red checked to match the Cars on the front and the 3rd quilt was the pieced back to the
other quilt. It became its own quilt....it started life as a back and became a front. lol

[Debbie-Esch House Quilts]

I love pieced backs but don't do them very much. I'm usually in such a hurry to get going on the quilting I don't want to take the extra time! I'll have to try to remember your great backs and that it's worth it!

I usually use small labels that I hand sew but I like the idea of quilting them into the quilt. Thanks!

[Mary Ann]

I often piece my backs but sometimes just use on fabric if I'm in a hurry to get it off to the quilter. I wish i had a cool label to do on Spoonflower because I often don't get a label on my quilts unless its for a special occasion like new baby. If they were ready to go like yours I'd do it more! Thanks for sharing.

[Jenny Michael]

Hi Julie, I embroider my label directly onto the backing, that way it is really quilted in the quilt. I use a thread color to match or to show depending on the quilt and I include it's name and all the info. I have a standard template that I save and then just add to it. I love your backs, and I love piecing them also.

[Karen]

I have been adding my labels prior to quilting for a while now too. I am less likely to label a quilt if I wait until after I have sewn on the binding. I piece my backs as a means of stash busting fabrics that i would no longer put on the front. I love seeing them on the back of the quilt and remembering where I got them from.

[Linda P]

I do one piece and pieced backs. I guess it depends on how much fabric I have or the whimsical look I want. I usually make a label and put in the lower corner of the back of the quilt. I some what applique it on two sides and the other 2 sides are incorporated in the binding. I think your idea is a lot better and safer though. Also depends if I am totally in love wih the back fabric too, though, as I might want to use that side like maybe on a table, so I try to inconspicuously sign my name some where. Very informative post!!

[Lara Gibbons - Chocolate Coated Patchwork]

I've recently done a post of my own about pieced quilt backs that I prefer. I think setting in the label is another touch that I may have to borrow. It does look good. I look forward to your tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
Here is mine http://chocolate-coated.com/blog/2011/03/quick-pieced-quilt-back/

[batt]

it's beautiful
I so wish i was coming to quilt market so I could come visit you and see these quilts. Your work is stunning!!! I vary on my backs
This is a great post, Julie!
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