The Other Side of the Quit

  When I first became "seriously obsessed" with quilting, I signed up for a group at a local quilt shop. The group was called Pinheads and led by Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Quilt Company. (Our group is now called the Silver Thimble Club, but that's another story) Each month Pat taught a new quilt. Kits were sold with luscious fabrics that Pat chose. In addition to the quilt, special fabric was chosen for the backing of the quilt. I learned from Pat's modeling to coordinate the back to the quilt top. 

It is taking forever to warm up this Spring. Atlanta had snow flakes last week. I still have two quilts on our Master bed that we sleep on each night. I don't have many quilts big enough for this bed. It dawned on me to "flip" my quilts over.  Both quilts have lovely creamy floral backings. It's like getting two quilts in one. Thanks, Pat for the inspiration!

(I know these pictures could be better, but hope you get idea.)

And this is fun?

Yesterday was one of those days. For a short period of time, I began to wonder why had I ever begun to quilt. Piecing quilt backs is what did it. Remind me to over-estimate when I need to purchase a quilt back and to Avoid directional fabric.

 The first problem child was the backing for the LSU quilt. I found a great tiger print online. Of course, I ordered it several years ago when I started piecing the top.  I ordered only the amount needed for the back. Yesterday, I decided to use some of the tiger print for my binding. It will make great binding for this top. Of course, now I don't have enough fabric for the back. I pulled some purple from my stash and some of the left-over LSU print. Well, the LSU print is directional. There's where my problem began. I kept sketching the dimensions, playing with my yardage. Finally, I put the quilt on the top of my bed, pieced some backing and just kept adding until I had a big enough back. In spite of all my turmoil, it does look rather nice. I like it! Of course, this took lots longer than I had planned. 

I moved on to the Christmas toile. Several years back, I purchased some flannel when a shop was going out of business.  Of course, this quilt is HUGE, I didn't have enough for the backing. On one of our shop hops, I purchased  some yardage to coordinate with the first piece for the backing. Since both fabrics were flannel and the top is cotton, I washed the flannel fabrics. DUH! They shrunk  lots. Now I don' t have enough fabric. I again sketched the dimensions, put fabric on the floor. Somehow or another it finally lots like it will work. What really worries me, is I had some fabric left-over :) YIKES!  I think I'll bring it with me when I bring the quilts to the long-arm quilter on Saturday.  

At this point, I decided to go to bed and read. LOL!