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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Candy Dish, and the Case For a Pieced Backing

Today, Janet from Simply Pieced hosted a sew-in at her house for our local MQG (happy International Quilting Day, y'all!), and I took the opportunity to finish up my kaleidoscope quilt, along with a new quilt top (but I'll save that for another post).  It was so much fun to spend the whole day chatting with friends who understand my love of all things quilty and have hours of uninterrupted sewing time.  Sewing, lunch out, and more sewing was a perfect way to spend the day as Spring Break comes to a close.


I just LOVE the way this quilt turned out.  It's so bright and cheerful, and just makes me smile!  I kind of worried that adding the border would break up the kaleidoscope illusion, but I really like it, and the Kona Corn Yellow binding frames all of the colors without drawing your eye away from the center of the quilt.


I decided to call this quilt Candy Dish.  It just reminds me of vibrantly colored candies in a beautifully cut glass bowl.




Of course, I pieced the backing from all of the scraps, and I think it compliments the definite pattern in the front of the quilt.  Anyone who follows my blog regularly knows that I love a good pieced quilt backing (both planned and improv).  I used to be a little intimidated by them, but once I tried it, I've never looked back.  They take a little bit longer to put together, but there are some definite advantages-

1.  It's a wonderful surprise.  In Louisiana, we have a French word, "lagniappe" (pronounced lan-yap), which means "a little something extra."  I like to think of a pieced backing is just a little bit of lagniappe for the recipient.

2.  It keeps your sewing fun.  The cool thing about a pieced backing is that there is no right or wrong!  You can use the fabric you have, and sew it together however you want.  This carefree way of sewing is really fun, and the end result is fresh and modern.

3.  Fabric variety rules!  I just love quilts with tons of fabric variety, but without pieced backings, my scrap baskets would be overflowing all the time!  Using every bit of the scraps in the backing allows me to have more variety in the front, and it keeps me from having to buy several yards of a single backing fabric, win-win!  I do have to confess that if I really love a fabric, I will save a few small pieces for my scrap baskets.  That way, when I do make a true scrap quilt, it is full of fabrics I love!

4.  Fabric SHOPPING rules even more!  So here's the thing- I used 16 different fabrics in this quilt.  Since those fabrics are completely gone, that means that I don't have to feel guilty the next time I'm at my favorite fabric shop and I see some yummy fabrics that I just can't pass up.  (hmmm...I just used 16 fabrics in my last quilt.  Oh yeah, I have room for these!)

If you've never done a pieced backing, I hope you'll give it a try.  Let me know if you do!

46 comments:

  1. Hi Kelly. This is lovely and bright. I like the yellow binding. I did a pieced back for my latest quilt: http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/2014-pantone-quilt-challenge-radiant.html. I really purchased too much fabric for the top, so decided to use it up on the back rather than start another project.

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  2. Well Kelly, you have once again make a gorgeous colorful quilt! I love this a LOT. Yes, I am loving pieced backs more and more, each time I make one.

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  3. Beautiful! I love the yellow binding. I have done a couple of pieced backs and I love them although I haven't been as adventurous as you with the improv backs... Yet! :-)

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  4. Awesome quilt! Lurve the pieced backing! I never in a million years thought I would get hooked on pieced backings but I SO am!! :)

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  5. Beautiful! I love how bright and colourful it is. I've made a couple of pieced backs and I think they're beautiful, but I also love my scrap bag because I love to make scrappy quilts with tons of my favourite fabrics in each one.

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  6. I totally agree about having a pieced backing. It is a great way to use all of the fabric but I also like the opportunity to use the quilt either way on the bed depending on mood/decor.

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  7. Sunny and peaceful, gorgeous quilt, great post!

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  8. I love the pieced border. It is lots of fun. I also like pieced backings on quilts. Because I am stashbusting, I can use what I have without purchasing anything. On the same note, sometimes using one fabric is what works with my stash. I definitely love using what I have.

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  9. I loved seeing you finish this one. It's so bright and cheery! Thanks for coming over and hanging out Saturday. We had lots of fun!

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  10. Your quilt makes me smile too :-) I love the look of pieced backings I just don't like doing them only because I want to hurry and get onto the quilting process, LOL

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  11. Love it! What a great name too...you always pick such good ones:) I have yet to piece a back....I WILL do it! Just have to give myself a shove at the end of a project. I think you are right about using up the fabric...that might just get me going. Fabulous finish!

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  12. Front and back it's gorgeous!! Love the name:)

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  13. I love pieced backs, they are definitely my preference, I often see quilts where the back appeals to me more than the front. And I'd add another advantage - they can be reversible.

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  14. Beautiful finish Kelly, and the name is perfect for it! It does look like candies in a dish!

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  15. Beautiful quilt Kelly and love the way you pieced the back and used up all your scraps!! Have fun shopping for new fabrics! Thanks for sharing! Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  16. Love this's one and you have a great way of describing it! Happy, fun colors! Glad the day was a good one for you!

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  17. I am creating a Kaleidoscope quilt right now and yours inspires me. Did you use the Smart-Plate method? Love your colors, they shout: "It's Spring." Thank you so much for sharing this beauty.

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  18. I made a pieced backing a few months ago with the leftover from the top and I agree it adds a lot to the quilt. The back becomes almost as interesting as the top. I'll use that method again for sure.
    I noticed that you sew your label before doing the quilting. I never thought of doing that and I like the idea. It becomes a part of the back instead of having been sewn after, as an afterthought.

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  19. I like your rationale for more fabric shopping, it certainly works for me :) Great quilt!

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  20. Kelly, your quilt is just beautiful!:)

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  21. Your quilt just sings. I too am a pieced backer most of the time. I agree with all the reasons you gave plus the reversibility of the quilt too. The only time I just one fabric is if I'm in a real rush and just happen to have a big enough piece that fits for the back. I'm into using more of my stash this year, so piecing is my go to all the way.

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  22. I love it, Kelly! Great color choices. There's a kaleidoscope quilt in my future (well, at least on my want-to-do list). :)

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  23. Love this beautiful quilt. So happy and bright.

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  24. Just Stunning!! I will try some day a pieced backing, congratulations!

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  25. Both sides are lovely! Well done.

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  26. It looks wonderful- back and front!

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  27. you know I'm your biggest pieced backing fan. =) I love how you spelled it out for everyone.

    the kaleidoscope is a fantastic pattern and I do agree that your border and binding compliment it perfectly. yet another fun finish from Kelly!

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  28. Now that I've heard you rave about pieced backings, I'm going to have to give it a try! The kaleidoscope is awesome!

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  29. I haven't ever done that much piecing on my backs, but I do love a pieced back myself. Your quilt is beautiful - the kaleidoscope has always been one of my favorite patterns.

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  30. Sounds like you had a great time with Janet and the quilty peeps. A fun day and a fun quilt! Love the bright colours. A beautiful finish!

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  31. I started doing pieced backs mostly because I never did the fabric math for a non-pieced back correctly!

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  32. Lovely quilt Kelly, I especially love the colours which are so fresh and bursting with springtime. We'll done and thanks for sharing.....

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  33. Very cute and colorful quilt. Love the back.

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  34. perfect name for a fabulous quilt. I like pieced backs, so much that I've been known to make them into an entirely new quilt, with its own pieced back!

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  35. The sew in sounds fabulous! I like the border on your kaleidoscope quilt. Congratulations on getting so much work done on International Quilting Day. :)

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  36. Love the vibrance of this and the back is totally gorgeous!

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  37. The back is as great as the front, well...almost! Love this!

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  38. What an awesome, happy quilt! And I love piecing quilt backings too. I've just discovered kaleidescope quilts, and the movement they create is simply mesmerizing.

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  39. Beautiful!! I'm also from South Louisiana originally. Born and raised in Morgan City, I now live in NW Alabama (The Shoals) for the past decade or so.

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  40. Such a colourful quilt
    Leena

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  41. What a beautiful quilt! Is it bad to say that I think I love the back just as much as the front? :) I love the bright colours and scrappiness of the back. Thanks for linking up :)

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  42. I have to say that I am pretty much smitten with this quilt! What a fun patter, and you made all those fabrics work together! I love how it turned out! :)

    Thank you for linking up to Fabric Frenzy Friday!
    -Lindsey
    Fabric Frenzy Friday

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  43. I love the pretty colors in this quilt! The borders and binding are the perfect frame for your happy candy dish (great name, btw). Congrats on an awesome finish and thanks for linking up!

    xo -E

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  44. I decided to do a scrap backing for my scrap quilt and also I have leftover backing from some other quilts. I took my scraps from other projects and cut them up in precut sizes.from my scraps I have between 10 to 15 lap to queen size quilts I can make. Lol

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