SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7
CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE BACKING
SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7: CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE BACKING
In this tutorial of the Scraptastic Scrap Quilt 7 we learn how to piece an alternative backing for our quilt. You can use left over fabrics from each of your quilts to make a backing or just add different designs and pieces. You can also incorporate pieces from other quilts that you have made. The choice is truly yours. For this particular backing, I took my 2″ x 9″ left over white strips that I had used on the front of my quilt and used them to frame the blocks for my backing design. I also used a jelly roll that I had purchased at Joanns about 5 years ago that I had forgotten about and decided to use when I was searching through my stash. I realize that not everyone will have access to a jelly roll and that is okay. You don’t have to use a jelly roll. You can use squares that you have leftover from the project we just finished. You can create a 9 patch and border it with whatever fabrics you desire. The amount of scrappy depends on you. You are the artist designing your own masterpiece. I will be incorporating more scraps as we continue working on the backing fabric, but for this particular project, I went with strips from the jelly roll. This quilt is going to be reversible and each side will be a different work of art. Embrace the process and don’t get hung up on perfection. The perfect quilt is the one you finish!
BLOCK INFORMATION FOR SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7:
You will need to make 20- 8″ x 8″ blocks for this portion of the backing if you are following along with me.
CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCRAPTASTIC SCRAP QUILT 7:
You will need to have Jelly Roll or Strips that you cut- 2.5″ x 42″- I folded mine in half which made it easier for me to work with, but you do not have to do it that way.
You can sew the full 42″ and the result will still be the same for the strips.
You will need to sew all 3 strips together. If you are using a square strips or sewing smaller squares to make your block, just make sure that you square it up to 6.5″ x 6.5″ once you have sewn all pieces together.
You will then take your 2″ x 9″ leftover strips or cut new strips (your choice) and sew them on to your 6.5″ block as a border.
Once you have sewn all 4 border pieces on, make sure that you use your seam line on your border and cut 1″.
Remove the excess fabric and you should have a perfect 8″ x 8″ Block.