First rule of thumb for building is measure twice, cut once. I think my new rule of thumb for quilting is measure before you buy backing. A couple of weekends ago, had hubby take me down to Yoder’s Department Store in Shipshewanna. I needed to get some backing for the grand daughters quilts and knew they had the best selection within an hour of home. So on a nice sunny day headed out.
Decided the backing would be favorite colors. Yellow for Sydney and Pink for Nina. Chose some Me & My Sisters, since we know I don’t really know how to select fabric and make it match.
Another Me & My Sisters for the binding.
Last week I finally had some time to start the backing. Guess what happened. You guessed right, not enough yardage. I thought I knew what I needed, but obviously I was wrong. Went through a few thoughts of just adding some strips of white for length. Too much white would be needed and I wasn’t crazy with that idea. Then I thought of some hearts. I wanted a large size, to fill my gap. Found a pattern, then needed to decide on fabric. You are right, I had 1 layer cake of Me & My Sisters Frolic in my stash. Last one, good thing. Cut it up and put together 6 hearts. Three for Nina’s back and three for Sydney’s. Each block is 16 x 16.
Then I added white to stretch the blocks across the back.
Now for my least favorite part of the process. Ironing the backing. Not sure if it will happen today, but hope to get it sandwiched this week.
Linking up with some Quilty friends:
Love Laugh Quilt – Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts – Main Crush Monday
Small Quilts and Doll Quilts – Design Wall Monday
I’m sorry that you didn’t have enough fabric for the backing, but you created a beautiful solution and I’m guessing they will love the backs as much as the fronts of these quilts!
I had too much backing and cut a length for a quilt, only it was too small – I really wanted to kick myself.
It looks like you had the chance to make a far more interesting back for your quilt.
I do like the heart blocks. They would be great to make from my 2 1/2″ strips.
Booboos can make a much more interesting quilt or quilt backing. I am forever having issues with getting the right sizes for quilt backs. I now tend to go really big so I don’t have an issue. Believe me, I feel your pain!
You did marvelously coming up for a solution – and maybe the hearts were just meant to be 😉. They will love those quilts and soon you will feel like ironing the backs!
I like this better than a plain backing, hope you like it too!
Those hearts in the backing are just perfect.
Hi Jan,
What a great solution to your shortage, and the girls will just love it. All the fabrics are so darn cute! They are perfect for the quilts. ~smile~ Roseanne
Jan I love the hearts!!! I think it ads some more “Love” to their quilts!! like I have said many time….you my friend are very talented!!! Love and Miss Ya
I think it was meant to be that you ran short of the backing fabric so you could do these cute hearts!
A perfect solution! Maybe you could make it your “signature” backing from now on?
Love the lemonade hearts!!!So juicy and yummy.
That’s a great solution, Jan, so cute and lovely. That yellow is so pretty. It’s so frustrating when things like that happen, but you worked it out just fine!