Think Twice

Auuuugh!!!
Trying to figure out how to piece a back for an odd-sized square quilt I cut my two yards of fabric in half and then realized, I didn't really want to do that. Sewed it back together and now I have a seam down the middle and of course it's fabric that's impossible to hide seams. Then I'm short on one end by about 3 inches, maybe. So, I cut some off each side, sew the two strips together so it makes one long strip and realize, I didn't cut the strips same width. Now I'm good except one half of my quilt is short by an inch. I'm not talking about an entire side, I'm talking 12 inches of the 42 inches ... I know this probably isn't making any sense since you can't see it but I am so frustrated. I think I finally have a piece big enough for the quilt but I am very unhappy with the results since there are so many seams that are very obvious. The whole back is just modge-podge together (that is now a really cool definition in my book) Fabric store is an hour away and I already bought fabric for this quilt I swore I wouldn't buy.
Just mad at myself for getting in a hurry.
I would shrug and say "whatever" if it was for me or my immediate family but it's for a dear friend who kind of intimidates me with her awesome skills so I wanted it to be as close to perfect and amazing as possible because I'm sure she could quilt (and better) if she wanted to since she does everything else. (and wow, that was a serious crazy run-on sentence LOL - I need to go to bed!)

Oh my...sounds like my kind of sewing, hee hee It's alright...it's OK really, really...If she is truly a friend she will be So Happy to receive your handmade quilt that you put your heart into and made just for her...your such a Fabulous Friend...Take a break and get back at it...yeah you need to go to bed it's late! (how's that for a run on sentence...no grammar police please!lol)

Yes, go to bed and look at it in the morning. Perhaps you will dream of something else to do with it. Cut it more and make it scrappier, or decide you like it just the way it is. Things always look different in the morning.

What does the quilt front look like? Is it made up of blocks? If so, could you make another block, or four,and put it in the center of the back, and have your original backing quartered? This way, you will have a seam down and across the middle to the blocks and you might be able to eliminate the strip that you cut wrong. This is the best I can do without seeing the quilt, sorry.

Go to Rachel's blog at www.stitchedincolor.com - she pieces her backs on purpose in multiple, multiple pieces of blockes! Sooooo, after you've had your multiple cups of coffee in the morning or cups of tea! Take a look and pull some fabrics from your stash and make a wonder pieced back on "purpose". lol :D

It will be wonderful!! Really!

Huggers, Ruby

No one will notice except you. Don't feel bad.

I like Ruby and Cil's ideas. The first thing that came to mind for me was to add some bias trim or a piece of fabric from the front blocks over top of your seams to make it appear as part of the original plan for the backing. Even with the seams as you've described I think it would really look great and would tie the front to the back. Do not despair!

I totally agree with Sandy....first go to bed! Then look at it in the morning after several cups of your favorite morning brew!

This morning I am still frustrated when I look at it but now I just have to laugh at myself and my crazy mess.
And because a visual is always better, here you go... this one is for the record books of craziest piecing:
http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/t...r/IMG_0642.jpg
http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/t...r/IMG_0643.jpg
And a visual for what the front looks like:
http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/t...r/IMG_0645.jpg

Unfortunately I used scraps and fat quarters for the front so I don't have any of that fabric left to put on the back. Except the broder, I have a lot of that. I think I'm done with this whole fiasco and I just want it finished so I'm just going to shrug it off and let my friend do with it what she wants.
http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/t...r/IMG_0647.jpg

Reading your original post I thought, "No one will notice this once it's quilted." I think this even more now! You have a cool, funky back with lots of motion and color. I say keep it as it is, quilt it wildly and it will all look great. I love the border fabric on the top, btw. You are rocking this quilt no matter what you say!

First of all, I am totally in awe! What you have made for your backing is called an awsh*t block. Veryyyyyyyy difficult to make, impossible to do twice and cosmic in it's conception.

From looking at it, it needs squaring up and some sashing added as do all brilliant blocks to set them off to perfection. Once that is done, make your sandwich, add a little crazy quilting and bob's your father's brother. The most perfect and unique quilt in all creation.

You are a quilter! Be bold and be proud!

You know what? You are looking at it too much! Love the front. Split the back in half again. Insert a solid (you have lots of colors to choose from) and use the rest for the top and bottom. Great quilt!

I agree with Daisy!!! It is a wonderful work of art!!! And once it is all quilted it will be just beautiful!! You ment to make it that way cus that's what the fabric was asking for!!! :)


Hugs,
Jan G.

You had me at . . . 'and bob's your father's brother.'

Pieced backings are all the rage in the quilting community right now. Use up what you used on the front is very popular (and gives good readon to go shopping for the next project) instead of adding the leftover yardage back into your stash. Don't worry about things being equal in the back. As a matter of fact, center seams often take more wear and tear than seams that are off to the left or right, so don' t be afraid to off set some of your seams in the backing (think about how you fold a quilt...down the center first almost every time)!

Ok, you said you have a lot of the border fabric left..1)measure what the size of the quilt back should be 2)take the fabric you already have apart. Blocks of this fabric will probably have to be trimmed to the smallest size but don't cut anything off till you are done.3)Make strips or blocks to put into the center of the quilt out of the extra border fabric 4) put everything together. By the time you trim and sew everything together, you will have 4 blocks of your backing and either strips or blocks of the border fabric and it will look like that was the original plan! Don't give up on it, it's a beautiful quilt and your friend will love it, for many reasons and for many years. Let us know how it turns out. Send pics when you are done with it.
Oh, you could also just do strips of both fabrics on the back. Have fun with it!

How did you like doing the Drunkard's Path blocks? I started doing them a couple of months ago but never got back to them. I need to work on them.

And I agree with Cyndi, once it is quilted, you will never focus on the piecing of the back.

Take a look a these links on jaybirdquilts.com She shows and has a tutorial on doing a pieced quilt back. They look really nice. Don't give up on that quilt...it's to cute...hang in there!

http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2011/04...out-quilt.html

http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2011/05...uilt-back.html

I would have sewed in some of the other fabrics you used in your quilt top or pull some colours from your backing fabric and make large blocks; sash your blocks. Something like this. Use as many blocks and sashing as you need. This way no seam lines will cut your focus fabric.

Attachment 26348

I agree with Cyndi. All the movement of that backing fabric is really going to work in your favor. Get it sandwiched, use a random quilting pattern, and bind it. Your friend will NEVER know it's not the way you planned, unless you tell her. And don't feel bad about cutting it wrong. I do that sort of thing all the time and people still seem to like my quilts.

Denis, that is exactly what I was trying to explain, using the strips..or she could do blocks in the same space. Thanks for the diagram. Doing it this way, all the seams are intended.