Quilt Backing Dilemma

[Margo C.]

Now all I need is a round tuit :lol: :lol:

Rosemary

:lol: :lol: Let me know where you find yours!

[Margo C.]

I have decided that since this is a very basic rail fence I am not going to try and kill myself and I am going to use a different back. It is for my son and he will just toss it around like an old blanket. I will use the original back as a top and call it quits.
I have learned a lot just by posting my dilemma. Thanks for all the advice guys!

[Melissa T.]

The only way I can think of to get the back and front to always aline perfectly is to do "quilt as you go". I recently finished a completely/matching/reversible quilt in this fashion. It's basically a large, rectangular "log cabin" but with cute scallops on the top and bottom. I started with all three layers in the center and built outwards cutting and using all three layers working outward. As I stitched on each log, the quilt was effectively stitched in the ditch. This was a great way for me to practice my domestic sewing machine/free motion quilting and I chose to do something different in every round. Of course not every quilt lends itself to this, but I loved how quickly it went together and what I got to learn (scallops, quilt as you go, free-motion practice, scalloped binding, etc.) as I was working on it.

[Melissa T.]

I am about to start a baby quilt using the quilt as you go method you mention "millisat".
I didn't know I could free motion on it as well. I am excited to try that. Makes such perfect sense. Can't wait to get started.

[Melissa T.]

I once backed an 85" square quilt with a center panel surrounded with a large mitered border in contrasting color. It was a clever and stylish way to use what was available in stash but sent me jumping around the living room in fits (no exaggeration) trying to miter that large outer border and then center and layer it, especially with the top edged with 324 teen tiny prairie points that faced outward. Eventually, thanks to the shifting nature of fabric, husbandly support, a chocolate or two, the entire mess was wrangled into submission, basted thoroughly, and hand-quilted. The back is not perfect, but looks very good considering the mental and physical effort required. My guess is that most complex backs are not perfect to their makers but look fine to everyone else.