Musings on the Quilt Back - Part 2

Good Morning!  Here is my next section on the Quilt Back.  I believe for each of us that don't give much thought to our quilt backs that there is someone who loves making them.  I have a couple of girlfriends in my sewing group who always ask "What is your back going to look like?  What fun thing are you going to do back there?  Whenever I hear them, I always think "What?  Not doing anything!"  Always to their dismay.....

So here is to all of you who love being creative with your quilt backs.  Which, by the way, I secretly love how they come out and always wish I had taken the time, even though I don't.

1.  Please don't center the special design on your quilt back.  A little off set is better.  Remember, once I roll your quilt onto the frame, I don't see it again until the quilt is finished and I take it off.  Getting something perfectly centered is nearly impossible. 

2.  Make sure if you applique a design onto the back that it is stitched down really well on all sides. 

3.  If you don't square up your quilt back, it is possible that your quilt back will look crooked when I finish quilting it.  So square up your quilt back, then take a look at it to make sure it is how you want it to look before you bring it to me.

4.  If you do a lot of piecing on your quilt back, especially curved piecing, please remember that when I put tension on it with the roller bars, that it might stretch or become wavy - therefore causing potential puckers/pleats. 

5.  Press any seams on your quilt back to the best of your ability. You would be surprised - the quilt back looks great and as soon a little tension is put on it, the seams that were not pressed properly stretch more open causing the quilt back to look crooked.

6.  A double sided quilt is impossible ( for me anyways).  To make two quilt tops and then expect them to line up perfectly once quilted is just not going to happen.  Trust me, I have learned this the hard way.

If you follow these steps, you can have a super fun, creative quilt back.  Just take a look at the back for this quilt below.  Lyn made this Harry Potter quilt and she had a paper pieced section left over and she incorporated it into the back of the quilt.  Absolutely LOVE, LOVE it!  I did all free motion on this quilt:  Swirls, flames, loops and swirls.  We used a double layer of cotton batting - just love double layers of batting!  It gives the quilt a little oomph and makes the quilting dimensional.  Black thread all over. 

Have a great day!  Email me with any questions!  Tomorrow I will spend a little time on the type of fabric selection you make for your quilt back.  Stay tuned!!!  Take care, Richla