But instead of piecing two equal widths of fabric using a single seam down the backing center, use this trick to give you a full width of fabric in the center and partial widths on each side of it. Because she was a thrifty woman, she always pieced her quilt backs, making them out of 10˝–12˝ squares of fabric, sewn together in rows. All Rights Reserved. No matter why or what kind of pieced backing you plan on making. The photo below shows how quickly backing seams pressed to one side will build up on the roller, creating wrinkles and potential distortion. When the backing doesn’t have seams, loading it on the frame is much faster–plus there’s less risk of puckers and distortion caused by multiple seams wrapping around the backing roller. The first edition of this pattern-identification book was originally self-published by the legendary Barbara Brackman in 1993. Julie replies... Good question! Cut the tube open along ONE crease only. I like to use the leftover fabrics from the front of the quilt, then add fabrics and blocks from my stash, trying to stay with the general color scheme of the front of the quilt. In most cases, you should assume that the fabric requirements on the back of a quilt pattern will not be enough to pattern match your backing. I usually measure the length of the quilt and add 8”, and then measure the width and add 8”. For me, making the back became as much fun as making the front. I decided it was time to give pieced backs a try. But how do you know which ones will work well in your APQS longarm quilting machine? When the backing doesn’t have seams, loading it on the frame is much faster–plus there’s less risk of puckers and distortion caused by multiple seams wrapping around the backing roller. You’ll end up with two seams instead of one, but you won’t have to worry about the center of the backing wearing prematurely no matter which way you load the backing on the frame. Not only do wide backs save time at the sewing machine, they can also save time at the quilting machine! 2 yards) and then use scraps to fill in the rest of the needed width. My pieced backs became more complicated. Now you’ve got a “tube” of fabric. Today's video is going to show you how to do a simple pieced quilt backing. Quilters Newsletter April May 2016 Digital Edition. Unfortunately quilts do get lost sometimes or even stolen. I have been steadily working for the last 6 months to finish up a project that’s going to be published in a book. Machine quilting requires some practice before you tackle your first project. See how much nicer the seam behaves when pressed open as it wraps around the roller? Piece together fabric squares and strips to create a one-of-a-kind quilt back. Instead of cutting two separate pieces of fabric and sewing them together, you cut one long piece, fold it together and then sew right down one side. My creativity kicked in and I started experimenting. What threads can I use with my APQS machine? I audition possible fabrics and blocks as I sew, moving the bits and pieces according to what I find pleasing to my eye. How about you? My motivation when I made those first pieced backs was simply to save money and to gain some control over the amount of fabric I was accumulating. There are so many colors, sizes, textures and styles to choose from. Fabric panels must be pieced together to create a backing for large quilts, although some fabric manufacturers offer a nice selection of wide backing fabrics that allow us to have a seamless back. The photos and her description of what was going through her mind as she made design choices are very instructive. Shop our patchwork quilts for sale, and array your chosen bedding with decorative sham(s) and pillows. The desired back width goes in to the formula as WQ=51 Pieced Quilt Backs. Sometimes by the time I snip the threads after sewing on the last border of a quilt, I’m so excited to have it finished that the last thing I want to do is wrestle several more yards through the machine to seam backing fabric. But your quilt backs don't have to be simple! Perhaps you’ll want to start with a handful of fat quarters and sew them together in rows for your first attempt. It’s lovely when I have the luxury of actually owning those 4+ yards that large quilts need and can whip out a quilt back … Dream Weaver Dark Blue 108" Cotton Wide Back Quilt Fabric by Deborah Edwards. Threads are like candy to the longarm quilter’s soul. Then I trim off the selvedges and press the seams open. That puts a lot more stress and wear right down the middle of your quilt. Since I am on vacation this week, I haven't actually had… This is improv piecing at its best. Try a single oversized block, preprinted panels, simple strips and squares - even use your UFOs or the author's "one-yard … If the quilt is wider than the normal 45” fabric (it is also a good idea to measure the exact width of the fabric you are purchasing as widths vary from 40-45”), then you will need two lengths, i.e . Rotate the tube until the two seams are on top of each other; smooth out the layers to create creases on the left and right edges. If I had a piece of fabric that didn’t quite go with the rest of the fabrics, I cut it in pieces and put it in a number of places on the back. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. Without thinking (and I do know better!) Your finished back must lay flat after you sew the pieces together; The finished back needs to be 3 to 4″ bigger on all sides than the top if you are going to have it longarm quilted; Please avoid making a seam that will fall near the edge of the quilt top when placed on top of it. The seams need to be at least 1/4˝ wide for durability. ⬇️ Missy learned how to match the prints from a curtain sewing book. You can read my full disclosure privacy policy here. Rather than take a poorly sewn block apart, I said, “The points don’t match, I’ll just put it on the back where it doesn’t matter.” I added pieces of vintage hand embroidery and samples of machine embroidery. Often one chooses a printed or solid fabric that goes with the front, or you can take the traditional route of using plain muslin. I added coordinating fabrics; I started using leftover blocks, orphan blocks, blocks that weren’t quite the right size and even blocks that weren’t well made. Over the years the selection has grown from a handful of choices to several hundred different prints and colors. They're practically invisible! To create a fun pieced back to your quilt, I just buy one length of fabric (the length of your quilt, approx. They were always scrap quilts; she wouldn’t have dreamed of buying fabric to make a quilt. I've done a range of things with the backs of my quilts. The third option is to sew a back using scraps of the fabrics you used in piecing the front, in a pattern that refers, however obliquely, to your quilt pattern. Even doing something as simple as writing the alphabet with your machine will help you develop the muscle memory to create your own spectacular quilts. Attach one straight edge to the backing roller, then toss the excess up and over the pick-up roller across the frame. Northcott Fabrics. Hi Len, Though wide backs work for smaller quilts too, it may not be as cost effective since you’ll be left with remnants that ironically may need a seam to make them usable for another quilt. Edited 8/21/2008 to add: Pink Chalk Studio blogged her process of deciding how to arrange a gorgeous Denyse Schmidt style pieced quilt back. Again, it’s just the back. Why should I buy fabric for a quilt back when I had so much in my stash? The Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns (Third Edition) is an essential for quilters of all levels and interests — and it has a great story. But before long something happened. All rights reserved. $8.85 - $17.70. I sew and cut and move things to a better spot if needed. Wide backing fabric is an easy way to avoid a seam wrestling match. Creative Ideas for Pieced Quilt Backs Add pizzazz to the flip side of your quilts! How to piece quilt backs May 31, 2016 We quilters spend hours and hours choosing fabric for our quilt tops trying to find just the perfect pattern or shade, and even longer cutting out the fabric and piecing it together. Cookie Statement | Terms & Conditions | Subscription Alert – Unauthorized Agents. NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. Place your two fabric lengths with right sides together and sew down EACH side along the length of the strips. It's a fun surprise when you turn back the … Are you ready to try? For my quick tip, I wanted to share with you my quick and dirty way that I sew together backings for quilts that are made from a single large yardage cut of fabric. Piecing the strips with diagonal seams provides even more movement. If not, here are all the ways you can get in touch: https://www.quiltingcompany.com/contact-us/. First, here are a few samples from the backs of quilts I've quilted for Missy. Two seams, but no seam in the center to wear out your quilt before its time no matter which way you choose to load it on your longarm! Schau dir unsere Auswahl an pieced quilt back an, um die tollsten einzigartigen oder spezialgefertigten, handgemachten Stücke aus unseren Shops zu finden. There is no right or wrong. 5 Things from May/June That Made Us Go WOW! This pieced backing creates a strong linear design with strips of fabric in varying widths. This website uses cookies for analytics, personalization and advertising. Then I sew, cut and rearrange again. Check out our pieced quilt back selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Pieced quilts will prevail as a focal point in your bedroom. The seams need to be at least 1/4˝ wide for durability. You then cut off the little fold line and open the fabric up and you’ve got a quilt back. © 2016-2021 APQS. For a while, I did that without thinking a whole lot about it. I remember the quilts my grandmother made. Calling all quilters: Now is our time to help our communities! Dawn Cavanaugh is Customer Service & Education Director at APQS. Brenna Wide backing is typically 108 inches wide, making it ideal for large, queen-size quilts. SecureTrust Trusted Commerce - Click to Validate. From Lonely Quilt Block to Finished Project, Designer Quilts by a Quilt Magazine Editor. Not only do wide backs save time at the sewing machine, they can also save time at the quilting machine! If it doesn’t work out quite like you had in mind, you can use it anyway; after all, it’s just the back. Next, I measured my finished quilt top and added three inches around the perimeter (six inches total to the length & width) to calculate how large the backing needed to be. Have you reached out to the customer service team yet to have them look into it? Sadly, the choices are much more limited beyond that width, so you’ll most likely still need to piece backing for a king-size quilt. Using the same fabric for the whole back, you would need anywhere from 3.5 to 5 yards (or even more!) If you are having trouble with your thread breaking on a recent project, use our step-by-step process to eliminate the obvious suspects before calling in the big dogs! Start at whatever level is comfortable to you and make a pieced back. My friend, Missy, makes the most perfectly matched pieced quilt backs! © Copyright 2021 Golden Peak Media. This technique puts some friction on the backing as you wind it on the roller, helping to keep it smooth and straight. You can remove the selvedge edges before you sew, but I’ll ‘fess up–I admit that I take a shortcut and sew about one inch inside the selvedge edges. Today I will show you two different ways to make a pieced quilt backing: (1) All from one fabric, or (2) from scraps and chunks. I didn’t think of myself as an improvisational quilter or an art quilter when I began but that’s exactly what was happening as I made more and more pieced backs for quilts. By the time I started quilting in the mid-1990s, quilts were made from 100-percent quilting cotton, coordinating fabrics bought specifically for making a quilt. Press seams open to keep bulk to a minimum. I'll fold a quilt … Make the back of your quilt as fantastic as the front with these easy techniques for pieced quilt backings - so easy, in fact, you can complete most of them in an afternoon. For example, if the front will be machine washable and dryable, the back should be also. Choose Options . Tip: A pieced back with many seams is easier to quilt by machine than by hand. The backs were made with a big long piece of one fabric seamed together. My design wall is a critical part of making a pieced back. I came up with a backing measurement of 54″ x 60.” The thing I like about pieced quilt backs is that it’s almost like making another quilt top. I like asymmetry and odd numbers of blocks and parts. You can make a simple quilt back from one fabric pieced large enough or you can get creative. Can you find the seams? This is a tutorial on how to sew matched pieced quilt backs. But I’ll warn you: sometimes the back is so wonderful it’s hard to decide which is the back and which is the front. Quilt preservationists recommend that the backing seam should be offset from the center of the quilt. The most common technique for signing a quilt is to add a small piece of fabric to the back of the quilt that has the vital data about the quilt. Back then, it was just a binder with each block hand drawn and indexed into her newly developed system. The back of your quilt should be about 3-4” larger all around than the top of the quilt. Make the back of your quilt as fantastic as the front with these easy techniques for pieced quilt backings - so easy, in fact, you can complete most of them in an afternoon Nov 15, 2019 - When you complete the front of your quilt, you are ready to sew the back. You want your quilt back to be 51” x 66”. Your next quilt back is a great place to try something new. Autumn Leaves Are Falling, Leaf Quilt Pattern Roundup, https://www.quiltingcompany.com/contact-us/, First Look: McCall’s Quilting March/April 2021, On the Horizon: January Quilting Workshops, Behind the Scenes: Love of Quilting 3700 Series, Quilting Daily TV: What to Binge on Your Holiday. For example, if the front will be machine washable and dryable, the back should be also. Login to post a comment. Floral Toile Black and White 108" Cotton Wide Back Quilt Fabric. She used leftovers from garment sewing and the “good” pieces of fabric from worn-out clothing. My preference is to put the seam anywhere but the center of the quilt back. You can trim the excess off now or you can wait till the quilt is quilted. Voila! This technique puts some friction on the backing … This step is important no matter which way you load the quilt, but it’s especially key when the seam is vertical. I bought just one length of quilt backing fabric (if the quilt was 90˝ x 90˝, I’d buy 98˝ of 40˝ to 42˝-wide fabric) and see what I could incorporate to make that one length of fabric be enough for the entire back. When most folks fold a quilt, they split it in the center in both directions. depending on the size of your quilt. When possible I use 1/2" seams for piecing the long straight seams of my backing. Wilmington Prints. You must Register or The Quilting Company Team. But as I continued making quilts, I had more and more fabric leftover and I started thinking about my grandmother’s pieced quilt backs. Pieced backing for quilt. The fabrics used for the back of the quilt should need the same care as the fabrics on the front. Attach one straight edge to the backing roller, then toss the excess up and over the pick-up roller across the frame. May 31, 2011 by Ebony Love. Use the quilter's requirements for backing size if you plan to send the project to someone else for quilting. We do our best to have straight seam lines, accurate piecing, and smooth pressing. $9.75 - $19.50. This work starts with 13 step-by-step ideas, plus over 65 photos and illustrations that will inspire you to get creative. How to Make a Diagonally Pieced Quilt Back. If you do not see the email, please check your junk or spam folder. Thank you.. I have a little "cheater" disclaimer here. The number one thing I do these days is that I piece my label into the back. I used different sizes of squares or rectangles together on the back of one quilt. I am trying to renew subscription to Quilting Aets magazine -Imade an unsuccessful attempt yesterday. Hi everyone! The fabrics used for the back of the quilt should need the same care as the fabrics on the front. Best, Nov 11, 2014 - While developing the Stereo quilt pattern, I discovered that you would have some extra triangles. Then you can challenge yourself to try something new on the next one. As you can see by the small pile on the floor the length of the red is much longer than needed. My first pieced quilt backs were simple squares sewn together in rows just like my grandmother had done. I have no formal art training so this is just what looks good to me. 7. I recently asked her how she does it. But instead of making the label an afterthought, why not design a special block to act as the background for all that important label information. To learn more or change your cookie settings, please read our cookie policy. You will be logged in automatically and a confirmation email with a password will be sent to your email address. Lori’s 4 Simple Rules for Making Your Own Pieced Quilt Backing Fabric: The completed pieced back must lay flat, with no lumps or bumps. When you have to piece the back for a quilt, is it okay to just join in the middle or should it be done in thirds. Oct 8, 2013 - Click here to sign up for more fun and free quilt alongs!! Encounter pastel floral prints, bright geometric shapes, rustic plaid designs and more, when you decorate with these elaborate bed coverings. The desired length of the back goes in to the formula as LQ=66 John likes to use a ½” seam allowance, pressed open, for his quilt backs, so add 1” to the quilt back width. If you have to seam backing pieces together and you’re quilting on a longarm frame, a horizontal seam will be SO much easier to load! The completed pieced back must lay flat, with no lumps or bumps. Here are a few ideas of how to do this: Choose Options. From the Vault: This feature was originally published in the April/May 2016 issue of Quilters Newsletter. Thieves will remove the label if possible to hide the original creator's identity. The seam will lay along the length of the backing roller, keeping the backing flat. Show you how to arrange a gorgeous Denyse Schmidt style pieced quilt backs do n't have be! 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Simple squares sewn together in rows for your first attempt design choices are very instructive to keep bulk a. Unsere Auswahl an pieced quilt back from one fabric pieced large enough or you get! White 108 '' Cotton wide back quilt fabric by Deborah Edwards long piece of one pieced... Things with the backs of quilts I 've quilted for Missy cut and move things to a..