Thursday, September 1, 2011

Why all the hype?

I am still here...working on my StLMQG Habitat Challenge.  I have the top completely pieced now and pressed all my backing...and then...I saw them...all the extra blocks I made for this quilt and decided for one reason or another they weren't working...  So, what the heck...let's just use them on the back... 


There is the house block that was my first thought...you know HABITAT - HOUSE...{i hear crickets!}
and then I thought about a rail fence...so there is one of those up there, and then the rest is all the leftover fabric that would never be used in anything else so I pieced it all together and this is the result...  and it's now pressed...

and

UGH!  Who invented the idea of a pieced back?  I hated making that back.   I don't think it adds anything to the quilt as a whole...it was very time consuming..and frankly who is going to look at the back?  I don't see me doing this again.  But I do see pieced backs all the time so what is all the hype about?  Do you know?

Nancy



 

12 comments:

Sharon S said...

They are more interesting than plain backs,IMHO, & you use up the extras. My daughter hates leftovers, loves pieced backs. Should we all send her our leftovers?

Jackie Russell said...

It is more interesting than a plain back.

And to answer your question about who is going to look at the back? Well all of us at the STLMQG at show & tell challenge reveal and your blog readers. :)

Diane said...

I occasionally do pieced backs so as not to waste large leftovers from quilts I have (not enough to use somewhere else, or so individual that I won't use it somewhere else), and to save money on not having to buy more fabric to back the quilt. They are a hassle, but I like the look of them on the right kind of quilt (casual, fun).

I sure wouldn't piece the back if it makes the quilting process a lot less enjoyable for you.

Quiet Quilter said...

I do both...the last back I worked on is here:

http://onemorequilt.blogspot.com/2011/07/just-finishedwell-almost.html

I only had FQs to work with, and there were so many colors that I pieced some of the larger remnants on the back rather than trying to find one color to match.

At the same time, I am waiting to buy some backing fabric for this top:

http://onemorequilt.blogspot.com/2011/08/part-4-see-what-i-did.html

because of all the strips involved...it would be too much bulk to quilt.

I think it depends on the quilt and your own way of thinking...

Terry said...

I only piece a back when I have extras that I can use up on it. Normally I just use a plain back and make the extras into something else though. :0)

quiltingnana said...

I have been piecing backs lately...using up extra fabric from the front or a left over block or two. Also it gives me a chance to use up some of my stash. I think it is fun to turn the quilt over and see what is on the back

Pat said...

I do agree the pieced backs are more time-consuming, but I like them better than just plain backs...most of the time.

Lorraine said...

I have pieced the backs of both the baby quilts I made recently...mostly because I was using up some left over bits and wanted to break up the plain back....but for bigger quilts I don't think I could be bothered to fit in leftover blocks..which are probably left over for a reason...you don't like them or.....

Lynne said...

Sorry you didn't enjoy the process, but I like the little houses (and the pun!)... It's like a little *wink* tucked back behind the quilt. Can't wait to see the FRONT!

FlourishingPalms said...

For me a pieced back is a place to put all the leftovers from the front of the quilt, just like you did. In the case of the Habitat Challenge though, I cut and pieced three designs before I settled on one for the front. Rejection number one is part of the quilt back. Rejection number two was unsewn, cut and resewn. Sheesh! Sounds like your challenge went together smoothly. What size did yours end up? Mine's 24" X 24".

Gari in AL said...

I, too, don't enjoy making a pieced back but I know that a "used" quilt does not always just show the front. And, on my last gifted quilt the recipients liked the randomly pieced back better than the pieced and appliqued front. (No, I was not happy)

Kris said...

Lol! Loved this post! Pieced backs were invented by Toppers. Quilters who are more into piecing than quilting. (It's just another step to avoid the quilting!) I looooove pieced backs. (What can I say? I'm a Topper.)