Sunday, April 26, 2020

How To 🔥Match🔥 a Pieced Quilt Back


My friend, Missy, makes the most perfectly matched pieced quilt backs! I recently asked her how she does it. This is a tutorial on how to sew matched pieced quilt backs.

First, here are a few samples from the backs of quilts I've quilted for Missy. Can you find the seams? They're practically invisible! ⬇️






Missy learned how to match the prints from a curtain sewing book. It's a method that is used to sew panels of curtain fabrics together. Here's an overview Missy shared with me from a book:
With these instructions, I was ready to give it a try! First of all, different from the instructions above, I trimmed off my selvages at a 1" width beforehand, so I can use them for my next selvage rug.

Here I'm trimming off the inner selvages at 1" for my next selvage rug. ⬇️ 

An important note: when sending a quilt to a longarm quilter, make sure you trim the selvages off the inside seams, due to the extra thickness of fabric. BUT, the outside selvages should be left on, as they do not get sewn through, and they give a straight edge for loading the quilt back.

Step 2 from the instructions above--position fabrics right sides together, then fold back the top fabric. Slide the fabric until the pattern matches up. In Step 3, the instructions indicate that 2 pins are enough, but I pinned all the way down the seam. ⬇️

Step 4--Stitch as close to the fold as you can. Using an open-toe walking foot makes the sewing smoother. ⬇️

As Missy noted in the comments, make sure and add at least one extra repeat to the length of fabric you are using. I lost about 1 1/2" of fabric at both the top and bottom edges, as you can see below. ⬇️ Make sure you trim both of these edges off straight before giving this to your longarm quilter. The edges need to be perfectly straight to load it on a longarm.
Here's how it looks now, after being pressed open. Note that the stitching shows on the back side, but does not show on the front side. ⬇️

From the right side (before trimming!) ⬇️

And a bigger picture ⬇️

Thank you, Missy, for the inspiration and instructions on how to match a pieced quilt back! It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Be watching for this quilt back on one of my own quilts soon!

Grace and peace!!! ~Nancy
     
Linking up with Tips & Tutorials On the 22nd, UFO BustingOh Scrap, Monday MakingMain Crush Monday, What I Made Monday, Clever Chameleon.      

15 comments:

  1. I've never matched a backing before. With solids it isn't an issue. I do think it's worth time time and effort and you did a fantastic job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! That is an interesting way to line that design together. I just matched one for the backing for my Straits quilt but might try this next time. My fabric had a more open and forgiving design on it. This technique would be a little easier and more precise, I think.
    Clever! I never thought of using the writing on the selvage as I've always cut it off first.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is one of those fantastic tips that should be shared everywhere! Thank you for writing this up. So helpful and quite simple. Have a great day!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bernie...how are things in California? Any more book sharing rounds in the future?

      Delete
  4. This is great Nancy - beautiful job! I LOVE that fabric too! I find that I do have to check often as I am sewing to make sure things are still aligned - a little tedious but worth the trouble. Thanks for sharing this - it comes in handy for lots of things....
    Oh also!! One important thing - I have learned this the hard way. When I order backing fabric, I order a little extra (at least a repeat's worth, especially if there is a big repeat)!! I was very bummed once when I failed to do that, and the repeat was 26" and I did not have enough - but now I always order a little extra.... Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Missy does a beautiful job with her pattern matching! Thanks for sharing, Nancy. I have used a very similar technique in the past. (Rarely bother with pattern matching!) Once I've got things aligned, I close the fold and sew like any other seam.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is just fabulous, she does a fantastic job in matching and maybe I should do more of that myself...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Awesome tutorial! I learned to match fabric a long time ago, when I first started sewing clothing. I don't often match backs, but sometimes it does call for it. This is perfect! And yes, those repeats are a problem, Good thing you had enough fabric. Thanks for linking up to Tutes/TIps!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a nifty trick! I love that backing fabric, by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful idea....I usually try to use an extra wide backing fabric so I don't have to piece it and when I do I use a solid or an overall print that doesn't require a match. I have several fabrics in my stash that I would love to use as a backing and now I think I have the "tools" ( knowledge...lol) to match them. Thank you so much for sharing...and for the reminder about the crocheted selvedge rug. I missed those posts as they were written before I found you. Time to go through the archives...guess I'd better first check to make sure there are archives...lol. Blessings from southeastern West Virginia!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...yay!!! The posts are archived....Sunday afternoon reading for sure! God bless you!

      Delete
  10. Genius! Such a wonderful tip and technique to share! Thank you, Nancy❣️

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've never done that before on purpose. LOL One time I pieced a back and it was a happy accident that it actually worked out and looked good. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. Now I know how to piece that back correctly! I really like that print you used. Thanks for sharing on MCM!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Missy is very clever and meticulous, and thank you for sharing the method. It doesn't look half as hard as I imagined it must be. Saving this post for a rainy day... eventually I'll need backs for all my UFOs! :) Thanks for linking up with the Chameleon's Colour & Inspiration party!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...