In an effort to keep my stash "manageable" I use the fabric left from piecing the front to create the back. Since I seem to have a habit of buying way too much fabric for a design there is usually enough left to cover the back also.

Michelle

For my quilts that I want to be well used I use flannel backing for the feel and warmth..... I too like the plainer back to highlight the quilting motifs

Carla

My girlfriend who is a prolific quilts does several thing to her backs that might be helpful

1/ She does the UGLY BACK thing ... using up all the fabric she bought long ago and no longer suits her style, color scheme or her current needs... sometimes she pieces the smaller fat quarters and pieces together... For large yardage she often does the dagonal trick that John Flynn shows on Fons and Porter and his DVD... this gives a diagonal treatment that is better for when she takes her quilts to the longarmer.

2/ She has been using some of her earlier less successful quilt tops on the back of some of her current works... She says she feels less WASTEFUL if she uses something she made earlier and now no longer likes as part of her backing. It lets her see how far she has improved in her quilting skills.

3/ She tends to make a spiral on the back of her quilts using small farbrics and just keeps long cabining the peices all around the backing until she has a back big enough for her project... She says she feels artistic when she does that... It tend to be intersting as she really plays with color placement and does a lot of experimenting when she makes her quit backs. Sometimes I think she takes longer making her backs then she does her fronts.


Me I just buy quilt backs from my local shop... I like the quilting that is highlighted on the back... reminds me of whole cloth.





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How to design a quilt back for a quilt that will be used and loved. I am in need of ideas for making the back interesting but not too time consuming, any suggestions?