Do you remember the Orange and Cherry Jubilee quilt? A few months ago I hauled it off the shelf and wondered what to do about quilting it. I decided I would bring it to the States and find someone who did long arm quilting as a business. But then June, one of my blogging friends, offered to quilt it for me if I could send it to her. And this is what I'm trying to do. Buy backing, sew it up, send the backing and quilt to June.How much backing do I have to buy? As well as we could Marcy and I spread out the quilt and measured. Added extra inches so that the quilt can be secured to the machine... and then figured out inches to yards... I need such-and-such amount of wide backing. I think... (My math is not too good.) Marcy looked at me blankly since she didn't really understand why the needed extra nor what wide backing might be anyway. Kiana got in on the figuring (inches to feet, feet to yards) but she didn't understand either.
Marcy took me to JoAnn's. Only dark blue and brown colored wide backings. Two days later I was at another JoAnn's. Same assortment. Rats. But that's okay! There were all these pretty calicoes and I didn't really mind paying full price since even then they are about the third of the Japanese prices. I picked out something suitable and carried my bolt (and my quilt so that the lady could re-measure it!) to the cutting desk. This is NOT wide backing so I had to double my figures, right?
"Oh yes. You need 5 1/2 yards."
Good, good. Get my big hunk of fabric and I go home happy, stuff it in the washer drier, cut my fabric in half, cut off the selvages and sew it up. Halfway home! Marcy and I lay out the backing and the quilt. NOT ENOUGH FABRIC!
Arrghh! Not only am I not good in math, I didn't even question the fabric lady's calculations!!! Marcy tells me not to panic. All I need is to buy another panel of fabric the same size as the length of my backing. (2 3/4 yards) I CAN DO THIS!!!
Yesterday I went back to JoAnn's, pulled the bolt off the shelf (it's on sale!) and ask for 2 3/4 yards.
"Sorry. There is only 2 yards and 17 inches."
This is the Law of Murphy.
"Give me what you've got."
I also bought fabric scissors since I'd been cutting the backing with Marcy's cooking scissors.
Cut off the selvages. Cut the fabric in half. Sew together. Sew the half to the other backing. Am I done?
Let's check ONE MORE TIME. Marcy and I spread the backing on the lawn and put the quilt down on top of it. IT DOESN'T FIT!!! Lord! What am I doing wrong?!!!"Tani, calm down! It'll fit! You just need to sew that extra little strip you have over there along this edge."
So I did. And the quilt fits. I think. The backing has nearly as much patchwork on it as the front.
June... I hope you don't think I'm a crazy woman when this quilt gets to you...
13 comments:
LOL!!!!!!! And this is why I use vintage sheets - king size - so I don't have to do the math! Oh boy can I relate to this story!
I love pieced backings - This is a really good way to use up leftovers or put a strip of blocks on the back that were leftover from other quilts...
I'm really sorry that this has been so nerve-wracking for you! I wish I'd just told you to send it on and I'd find something here. I'm sure that what you have will be fine. Pieced backings are okay with my machine, as long as there are no selvedges (they break needles). I look forward to getting it here to work on. I only hope that my work will be good enough for your beautiful quilt!
Your friend, June
In spite of all your problems...I had to laugh at the story. Now that this quilt is all set, I hope you can move on to other things with NO problems for a while!!
As a Quilt Shop Owner I see a lot of quilt backs! I'd say fully 50% are pieced....often with lots and lots of fabrics.
Dont feel bad! I had a customer send me backing w/o piecing it...and I had SO MUCH trouble with it! I felt like I was in a Keystone kops movie. Not even as big as yours...but I bet I hacked backing for an entire day! welcome to the club! lolol
ps..my fav online place for wide backings is www.thousandsofbolts.com
Sometimes they even have flannel!
Gather roses while you may...................................................
Success! After all that trouble I bet June will return a beautiful quilted quilt to you. It will make a great story label to tack on the quilt.
That's a lot of driving for one backing, LOL! But it is together and all one color so any seams will be minor hiccups.
I've had backings like that too, although now, I just plan to piece them, so I've figured in the piecing time into my "how much time will it take me to finish this quilt" calculation. I still have to quadruple the number though to reflect reality.
I have to measure 2-3x and write it down. Then I draw a diagram and see if it "looks" right. Sometimes I still get it wrong. math incompetent here
This is why I'd never be a quilter. I have no patience and my math skills stink. I love to look at pretty quilts and I always admire the workmanship. I try and go to the big Houston International Quilt Show because I live in the area and I LOVE walking around and seeing everything. By the way, I've decided quilting must be big in Japan since I usually hear someone speaking Japanese. They've come a long way for the show.
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