Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Summer of Sewing: Sew Many Strips Quilt Back

Welcome back to our Summer of Sewing tutorials here at Inspired by Fabric! 

We'll be featuring regular tutorials as part of our Summer of Sewing series, all using our newest fabric lines that you can find at your local quilt shop! Our tutorials will include a chance to win a bundle of the fabric line being used, so make sure to enter each time!


Last week we shared how to make Log Cabin-style triangle blocks for a modern quilt front; this week we're showing how to make a pieced back, 1600-style, using yardage plus the remaining strips from the Dryad Snack Pack. Of course, this design could be used for a quilt front, too! 


A Snack Pack of the Dryad collection by Shannon Brinkley

If you're unfamiliar with the concept of a 1600 quilt, the name comes from the fact that you use (roughly) 1600" of fabric--a full Snack Pack. It's easy sewing, and the quilt will look different every time based on how the strips are joined. In the basic 1600 quilt, you sew all the 2-1/2" strips short ends together into a long strip. Then you fold the strip in half, align the short ends, and sew the two strip halves together to make a strip half as long and twice as wide. You continue doing that until it's quilt shaped. Variations include cutting strips into shorter pieces to make it scrappier, adding squares of an alternate fabric between strips, and using diagonal seams (like for piecing a binding, for example). We're borrowing from that concept today to add some excitement to a quilt back as well as use up our Snack Pack strips. 

Let's get started!
You'll Need:
The remaining strips from your Dryad Snack Pack (shorter pieces plus full-length strips)
3-3/4 yards of white text print


Make the Quilt Back:
1. Begin by sewing partial strips to other partial strips or two full strips using a diagonal seam.  Trim and press open each join. Vary the fabrics and the strip lengths to create the most interest. 

2. Here's a look at some of our partial strips (leftover from the triangle blocks last week) sewn together. 


3. Sew all partial strips, pieced strips, and full strips together to make one long strip. Our strip is about 26 yards long, which is plenty to create the quilt as you see it here.
4. Align the short ends of the long strip, right sides together. Begin sewing down the long edges of the strip to make a pieced strip that is two strips wide (2x-wide) and half as long. Tip: If you're comfortable with the speed, now is the perfect time to adjust your sewing machine to the highest speed--lots of long, straight sewing stitches! When you get near the end, you'll need to cut the strip into two pieces to finish sewing. Here's what a portion of the 2x-wide strip will look like: 


5. Fold the 2x-wide strip over on itself, right sides together, so the short ends meet. Sew down the length again. You'll need to cut the strip near the end.  


6. Your pieced strip is now 4x-wide:

7. Fold the pieced strip over again and repeat to make a unit that is 8x wide. 

8. Follow the diagram below to cut the pieces for the background. Note that this fabric is directional, and the cutting takes that into account. Cut one 88" long piece for the right side of the quilt. Cut the remaining section into two 21"-wide pieces. These will become the left side. 

9. Sew the 21" pieces short ends together. You'll need to trim this strip to measure 88" as well. Here are the background pieces of your quilt back. Stitch the pieced section between them. 


Here's a look at the entire quilt back. because it is a backing, it is sized larger than the quilt front from last week. The extra will be trimmed off after you quilt it. 

A close-up of the quilt back. Love that text fabric with the splash of color in the middle, plus the interest created from the strips running vertically contrasting with the horizontal text! 

If you missed the tutorial for making the quilt front from Dryad Snack Pack strips, find it here!

 See the entire Dryad collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.

For a chance to win a Snack Pack of Dryad, make sure you follow us on the blog (options are in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you do, as well as telling us if you've ever made a quilt with a pieced back. Giveaway is open through Sunday, 31st at 11:59 pm CST. We'll randomly draw a winner and announce it on the blog next week. Make sure we have a way to get in touch with you if you are selected as the winner!  

Congratulations to the winner of last week's Dryad snack pack: PK Sews
We'll contact you for your mailing information! 

57 comments:

  1. I have made several pieced backs for my quilts. I like the idea of using up some smaller pieces of coordinating fabric to make the back almost as pretty as the front. I like to change it up with using a row of simple patchwork or a favorite block used here and there on the back. I am a Bloglovin follower!

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  2. I follow your blog and have pieced the backing for several quilts. Thanks for the giveaway!
    cork@pa.rr.com

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  3. I always do a pieced back for my quilts... for me they are more interesting and more economical. Thanks for the giveaway... I follow on Slick RSS

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  4. I follow you through email and Facebook. I have made 4 quilt backs that were pieced this year. Thank you for the tutorial.

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  5. I follow via GFC. I always try to piece my backing to use up leftover fabric. It's my way of using up scraps.

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  6. I almost always piece my backs, as I want to try to use up as much as I can!! I follow via bloglovin!

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  7. I follow via email. maryc76904 at yahoo dot com

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  8. I love to piece my quilt backs; makes the back as interesting as the front and I am sometimes able to use up some smallish pieces. maryc76904 at yahoo dot com

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  9. Follow blog. I piece backs a lot. It is a great way to use scraps and stretch a fabulous print on the back. The last back I made was for a hexagon quilt. I used all the left over triangles to make strips for the back and the last few hexagons made an appliqued flower as well.

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  10. Follow blog. I piece backs a lot. It is a great way to use scraps and stretch a fabulous print on the back. The last back I made was for a hexagon quilt. I used all the left over triangles to make strips for the back and the last few hexagons made an appliqued flower as well.

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  11. I have been using left-over pre-cut strips a lot lately to make backs for the quilt. My husband often comments on how he likes the added interest. I follow by email and Facebook.

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  12. Follow blog by email. I've done many pieced backs (left over blocks), leftover larger chunks of fabric, have not tried the "strip look", but will because I like it. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  13. Since I like to quilt with pre-cuts, I usually do a whole-cloth backing because my stash isn't terribly deep. I follow by email. basaran.family@rogers.com

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  14. I follow by email.Great idea for a back because I usually use only one fabric for the back and love use scraps to make hexiesand scraps quilts.My tinniest string this year is 1".Thanks for sharing.

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  15. I love your blog, follow on Blogluvin . I usually end up piecing my quilt backs. Try to add something interesting like quilt blocks or piano keys or strips.

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  16. Yes, I have pieced a few quilt backs and I follow you by email.

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  17. I do follow you through my e-mail. I made a cabin in the stars quilt, enlarged the pattern for that block x 10 and then used the giant cabin/star in the backing. Loved it!

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  19. I already follow thru Email, Bloglovin & Pinterest too.

    I have only done a pieced backin three times now...turned out pretty goo! lol

    Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way ! :D

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  20. I follow by email. I usually back my quilts with flannelette and so just piece them enough to make the backing big enough!

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  21. I follow the blog via email. I have pieced backs. Fun look! Denny1600 at gmail dot com

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  22. I follow via Google Friends Connect. I piece the back of all quilts I make. In fact, I even pieced the back of the first quilt I made.

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  23. I love pieced quilt backs and use them often! I follow via gfc.

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  24. I follow via email. Love, just love, pieced backs!! Thanks. Diane O

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  25. I follow via email. Love, just love, pieced backs!! Thanks. Diane O

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  26. I follow by email and Bloglovin. I do use pieced back and enjoy using them more and more. Scott_3508@netins.net

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  27. I follow you on Bloglovin and made my first pieced backing for my grandson's quilt!

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  28. I follow Inspired by Fabric by email. Most of my quilts have pieced backs; when a block or two aren't 100% I use them in the backing. It adds interest and is a nice way to use up bigger scraps from the quilt.

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  29. I follow by email - I have made pieced quilt backs!

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  30. I follow you by email. Yes I have made many a pieced back. I love the surprise and interest one gets when they flip over the quilt!

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  31. I've heard about making a quilt this way, and I love your variation!! I always piece the back with something that is similar in the pattern to the front... It really adds that extra swish!! I follow you via Bloglovin and email.

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  32. I follow with GFC. I have made several quilts with pieced backs, most with leftovers from the front.

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  33. I've made several pieced backs...for one of my quilts I think the back ended up nicer than the front.

    I follow via email.

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  34. I like pieced backs and plan to try one out soon. I follow by email

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  35. I follow via email. I've done some pieced backs, because I needed to use as much fabric from the front as I could. I do prefer to use wide backing fabric, though. It's faster! Nice design.

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  36. I follow on BL and E-mail. I have used pieced backs but these days there are such great backings out there I have been buying those instead.

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  37. I follow your blog via Bloglovin. I have pieced many quilt backs and love them a lot. I'm a bonafide scrap quilter here. Is there any other kind of quilt back to use?

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  38. I often make pieced backs for quilts. It's a great way to use up coordinating scraps and to make a back larger. I follow via Bloglovin

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  39. I have started making pieced backs, both for the interest factor and for the economy factor!

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  40. I follow with bloglovin 😊 I've never made a pieced back before as I mainly make baby quilts so they don't require so much fabric x

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  41. I regularly piece quilt backs. It gives them more interest, and uses up leftover fabric. And I follow you via Bloglovin.

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  42. Just about all my quilts are pieced backs, its a good way to get rid of some pieces in the stash.
    sewfabrics at outlook.com

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  43. I follow by email.
    I love piecing my quilt backs - I like to use some of the left-over fabrics from the quilt front!

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  44. I follow by e-mail. I've never made a pieced back, yet!

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  45. I follow by email. I usually piece my backs in one way or another. The Dryad line is a favorite of mine!

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  46. I follow by email. I have never made a quilt with a pieced back, but then again, I have only made two small quilts so far.

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  47. I follow on Bloglovin. I have never pieced the back of a quilt except to sew two matching pieces of fabric together to make one piece that would be large enough. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  48. Following on Bloglovin'. Put a 2nd top on the back of a quilt - revisible. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  49. I Follow Inspired by Fabric via email.
    All my quilts or runners have a pieced scrappy back, it's as fun to piece that too. Thank you.

    bluestarof2@yahoo.com

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  50. I follow the blog by email. I have not pieced any backs for my quilts yet, but I think I might try it. Thank you for the giveaway. lkedwards55 at yahoo.com

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  51. I follow on blogger dashboard. :) I've had to do pieced quilt backs because I like to make really big quilts. I like the look of the front fabrics in a different arrangement on the back. :)

    Seaexplore@hotmail.com

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  52. I follow you by e-mail. I have pieced a back a few times. It can be a fun way to use up scraps from the front.

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  53. I do follow, via bloglovin' and ALWAYS make a pieced back, but haven't tried this method, will definitely do it one day :)

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  54. I have never made a pieced back - it is on my list to do! Thanks!!

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  55. I have made a peiced back, but usually to add fabric to the ends. When that one yard of the perfect print isn't quite enough.

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  56. I follow you . Thanks for sharing about 1600 quilts and I plan to be making pieced quilt backs. This is one I will be making.
    djcutting2 at gmail dot com

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