Quilt backing is your choice. And there are many choices.When you think of quilt backing, you probably think of a whole piece of fabric. Many quilts are backed with a single piece of fabric. If they are too large, then they could have multiple sections of the same fabric sewn together. Sometimes this is done with a seam down the middle of the quilt. And sometimes the back will have one width of fabric down the middle and then a smaller length sewn on each side. Another way is to sew sections crosswise on the back. I have also made quilts where I have used left over blocks, along with other fabrics, on the back. On my daughter's quilt, I used 3 different fabrics cut into huge rectangles and sewn together to form a piece that was the right size. And right now, I am in the process of quilting a 40" square wall hanging that is actually 2 separate fronts, so the end result will be a reversible wall hanging. I have used all these techniques when backing my quilts. For me, it really depends on the size of the quilt. Anything I make that is smaller than the standard 44" fabric width will usually have 1 piece of fabric for a quilt backing. For these smaller quilts, I will use choose a fabric that coordinates with the colors on the front and what I plan to use for binding. If the item is a wall hanging, I sometimes use whatever fabric I have on hand that is the right size. I figure that since it will be hanging on the wall, no one will see the backing anyway. Just my way of saving the "good stuff" for a better use! Larger quilts require a large back. You can purchase 108" wide fabric from local quilt shops and online shops that would fit almost any size quilt you are finishing. With that width, you'd be able to use 1 huge piece for your quilt backing. This is the one type of backing I have never used. It is hard to find in my local stores, so I don't think about using it. When planning my quilts, I either buy a coordinating fabric and plan to piece it together or decide later to use what I already have in my stash. I have even used old bed sheets as 1 piece backings. I know that might raise an eybrow (or more) in some quilters. I have found that sheets are harder to quilt and don't shrink at the same rate as fabric, which can cause problems for those of us who don't prewash fabrics. I would not recommend it, but can be done.
Anyway, back to pieced backs. They an be planned out with large squares of coordinating fabric, like my daughter's quilt, purchased specifically for the quilt backing. They can be put together with leftover fabrics and/or sewn blocks, like my Bahama quilt back, pictured above. Or the back can even be another quilt top, for a truly reversible quilt. The wall hanging I am currently working on is reversible. One side is blues and yellows in a star pattern, the other side is tans, greens and golds, in a braided pattern. I decided to use a quilting pattern that fit the star blocks, but am still undecided on how or what to bind it with. Colorwise, each side is completely different than the other, so I am actually considering just folding each edge in and topstitching them together. Binding is definitely something to consider when planning a reversible quilt. As you can see, your quilt backing can be anything you want it to be. And I haven't even talked about the actual pattern of the fabric! That too can be a solid, a quiet tone-on-tone, a small scale pattern or a wild pattern with outrageous colors. I believe that an interesting back adds just a little extra oomph to your quilt. So have fun with it!
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