Backing Piecing Question

**dolphin** · 04-01-2005, 01:36 PM

I'm a bit disgusted with myself for not giving this fabric back to the cutting lady at Walmart but I sometimes let people run over me and don't speak up and this was one of those times.

I asked the cutting lady to measure out some panels and I said I was going to use the fabric I gave her for the backing. Well I walked off to look for some border fabric and the lady cut my backing to 4 yards, which I will have to cut in half and piece in the center. Anyway, when I add my border to the bottom, the backing is going to be about 8" too short.

So my question is..... Has anyone ever had to piece their backing other than down the middle?

Should I add the inches onto the top and bottom or should I just add it to the bottom? Isn't it better to piece it as little as possible? BTW, the backing is fall leaves in green, brown, yellow, and red.

I'm just so mad at myself for not making her re-cut it and give me 5 yards like I always buy for my small quilts.

**homesteadmamma** · 04-01-2005, 01:42 PM

Its not a problem at all Carolyn. I've done it lots and my quilting teacher from years ago does most of her quilts that way.

You can put the extra all the way around, at the top and bottom or just at the bottom. Whichever you like and feel comfortable with.

When I make a mistake cutting, I do it all the way around. It makes for a pretty backing, especially if you've just used plain material on the back.

I've also seen it done with the border that is used on the front used on the back too, just around the outside of the backing.

There is no reason why it can't be pieced lots.

**dolphin** · 04-01-2005, 02:18 PM

Thanks CJ. I've just never had to piece one before and I felt like I had already ruined it.

**paelthom** · 04-01-2005, 02:36 PM

Anything made in love is beautiful - even pieced. Like CJ said, I think the border all the way around would be lovely.

**Michele Annette** · 04-11-2005, 09:39 AM

I too think a boarder all the way around would look really good! I may do that on the quilt that I'm making now because my quilt top is 45" x45" and my back ground fabric width is 44". I wouldn't worry too much about it.

**many houseapes** · 04-11-2005, 10:06 AM

i wouldn't worry about it either...just add some fabric to the border (something to accent what you already have) and you should be fine. Sometimes for the backing, i actually piece together different pieces of remnants to make one large sheet, and I have had beautiful results with that as well...happy quilting

**dolphin** · 04-18-2005, 01:06 AM

Thanks everyone for your replys. When I cut the length of backing fabric in half I realized I could just turn it sideways and not have to piece it at all. The backing was fall leaves of many colors and with my machine quilting it doesn't show up at all.

But, I'm glad to get all of this information for future quilts I will be making. I've already discarded many pieces for backing because I was afraid it wasn't enough and now I know I can piece it. Thank you.