Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs

/ quiltinggail

Kelly Young has done it again!!! She has a fantastic new book out that you will absolutely LOVE!!!

This book has an amazing number of quilt backs in different sizes … some backings are scrappy and use left-overs and others use stash.

One bonus is that there are 18 FREE downloadable patterns that you can make for the front of the quilt to go with the backing – or vs versa.

This book is available at Essem Textiles now! Phone or order your book right away!

I am going to show you 1 front and 4 backs that I made using this book, “Perfectly Pieced Backs!”

Back #1 – Plus Front

This is the quilt top “front” I decided to make: It’s called “Waverunner.” It is one of the 18 free patterns available with the book!

Cutting out this quilt was very very quick!

I was working on the ‘front’ while I was at a guild sewing day and the ladies were thrilled to get a sneak peak of a book that was not available to purchase – yet! 🥹

Now, the first thing you’ll notice is that mine is not done in teals / blues … I used purple and green fabrics from the Island Batik fabric collection called “Napa Valley.” And, my quilt is smaller although the blocks are the same size. I just didn’t make as many because I didn’t have enough of the fabric from the collection to make more.

As I was piecing the front, I quickly realized that it was the perfect opportunity to make half-squared triangles instead of discarding the excess fabric. I made a lot of HST.

Here is my completed top.

And all those HST I made? I decided to join them into groups and sort-of follow the backing for “Islands.” I didn’t have focus fabric for the “Islands,” so I thought that making my own ‘Islands’ would work. My ‘Islands’ used up all of the HSTs! Perfect – no left-overs!

Here’s my “Islands” placed into the back. I paired them with the background fabric “Wheat-Dusk,” also from the Napa Valley fabric collection. The quilt was quilted with “Wild” or “Graffiti” quilting – Anything goes!

Backing #2

I made a top called “Lone Star Left-overs” (right). Yes, I used left-overs from the lone star quilt I made earlier this year (picture on the left).

I took a lot of the pieces and made “Crosses.” I used the “Cross Purposes” backing as my inspiration. The “Crosses” were made from scraps. Again the quilt was quilted with “Wild” or “Graffiti” quilting! So easy and quick!

Backing #3

I can’t show you the front of this quilt – YET – because it was made as a test quilt and the pattern is not available until later this year. However, I can show you the back! And, you probably notice that it’s not even sandwiched, let alone quilted! This is based on the backing pattern, “Every Little Bit.” The fabric scraps are from Island Batik’s “Wild Blooms” fabric collection.

Backing #4

Earlier this month, I showed you my June Island Batik challenge with flying geese. You can read more about it HERE.

My inspiration for the back was “Coin Strip.” I made 2 strips and here is the back:

Book Review

As with all of Kelly’s books, this one is very well written!!! The directions are very easy to follow and the diagrams are great! There are multiple sizes for each of the backings! Of course, the 18 free lap sized patterns are also well written and easy to download.

One of my former concerns with backings that have straight lines is getting it straight. I inevitably have them crooked and off set and anything but straight. Kelly has that covered in this book with clear directions on how to get you backs straight! My backs turned out straight! Thank you, Kelly!

This book is available at several online stores: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Connecting Threads, and Missouri Star to name a few. However if you want a signed copy by the author, you can get it from her Etsy shop HERE.

Along with all the backing patterns, links to 18 additional patterns, this book also features full quilt finishing instructions.

This book will definitely be a fantastic addition to your quilting library!

Other Bloggers

Here is a list of the other bloggers that are posting today with their “Perfectly Pieced Backs.” I can’t wait to visit each blog and see what they made!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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32 thoughts on “Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs”

  1. Pingback: PHD in 2023: June Report | Quilting Gail

  2. Hi Gail, I love your quilts and quilt backs. I’m really glad that you addressed my one concern about using pieced backs – which is getting them straight. I will definitely get this book, based on your review. Thanks for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks. Love your “Wild” or “Graffiti” quilting.

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    • Hi AndrĂ©e,
      I know that getting pieced backs straight is a huge struggle. Or at least it was for me in the past … that’s why most of my previously pieced backs are definitely off-centre – and so much so that it looks like it should be that way. But Kelly’s book is a definite game changer! :-). It’s a purchase you won’t regret!

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  5. Pingback: Sunday Summary: June 25 | Quilting Gail

    • Kelly does have some fabulous ideas! You’re going to just LOVE ❤️ her book! I especially appreciated the tips on how to get the back straight! :-). Have fun! I look forward to seeing more of your pieced backs! 🙂

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  11. Love the quilts and the backs too. I am sure I have some off-cuts from the Lone Star Quilt we made last year. Not much can become of them but I am sure they can be a part of a pieced back. Thanks for the ideas, Kelly and Gail!!!

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  13. I thought I was a bit of an overachiever by making two with a third in the planning stages but FOUR COMPLETE?!! You are indeed a star 🙂
    Kelly’s book is just that good that I look forward to making more backs!

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  16. I may have to add this book to my library. I don’t often do pieced backings, because I don’t want to think about how to piece them together! Kelly fixes that little issue, with some fun ideas. Your quilts look great, front and back!

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  17. The “Every little bit” backing looks a lot like the quilt top I am making now, except mine is less planned.
    I love making pieced backs.

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    • It is fun to use up fabric for the backs! And Every Little Bit was the perfect width to use up one length of yardage without piecing! Win Win! Can’t wait to see your top!

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