This is the Black & White Slashed Squares quilt I made back in January. I'm really happy with it.
One of my readers donated a big box of black and white fabrics for me to use on the back of the quilt. Sure, I could sew them all together, but I wanted to make the back look interesting, and not boring.
I finally figured out that I could make three giant blocks that would run down the middle of the back of the quilt. Then as I cleaned off the mess of fabric on my big table I found all the pieces for 24 half size blocks. I could use those too.
I sewed up the three big blocks and then I lined up the small ones next to them. So I'm sewing the mini blocks together, and I looked up at the design wall and thought, "damn, this could be a quilt on its own." Which reminded me of something one of my coworkers said when I showed her one of my quilts when it came back from being quilted (since all my quilts get shipped to me at work).
"Oh look, it's
reversible!"
I cringed, and didn't even try to hide it. "No, it has a front and a back."
"But the back is so pretty! You could use it that side out."
Well sure, but that's not the way it's supposed to be, I thought to myself.
Or is it? What do you think?
I'm going to make the quilt anyway, and I'm going to use it as a table cover, so it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious.
19 comments:
Your quilt - you can have it the way you want it. Like you I think I would keep it displayed one way, unless it gets stained or you feel like a change.
I have several wall hangings, table runners and a couple of Baby Quilts that I made reversible. Gives me more room to play and takes up less space in the linen closet.
I do not piece all of the backs for my quilts, but many times they could be used with either side out. Who cares. There is always a label on the back, but sometimes it is so decorative that people don't mind. One of my quilts got more nice reviews on the back than on the front an the owner turns it regularly. Mine are all done as gifts of love and I don't care how they are loved. Back, front, to me it doesn't matter.
I think both sides are great. I love piecing more than any other part of the quilting process, so I do piece most of the backs. One of the quilts I have grown to love the back more than the front. In the end the decision is yours, but I would go for it.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? I LOVE pieced backs and piece almost all of mine...some are more interesting/planned than others, LOL. Where will your label go on this one?
I piece a lot of my quilt backs and I always try to make them pretty and interesting. I wouldn't call them reversible, but I see no harm in it. :D
You know how I feel about this - that the back is every bit as important as the front. Every so often, I end up with a quilt that has TWO sides (A and B). Each one is independently beautiful. Together they become a two-fer.
p.s. "Reversible" is just a term . . .
You put so much thought into the backs of your quilts as much as the front pieced part. So, both sides are works of art, it just depends on the viewer to decide which one they like best.
Besides it helps with the scrap control. You won't have to shop for larger pieces just to have a backing.
Your question reminds me of a comment made by one of the docents at Winterthur in Delaware. The man who built the house and pursued a large collection of American crafts at a time when the public in general did not value them, prefering European antiques instead - loved quilts and bought/owned a large and diverse collection. He liked the quilted stitching best and would turn even the most elaborate pieced or applique quilt back side up on his bed so the quilting was featured. 🙂
Linda
The way it's supposed to be is such a limiting concept! On the other hand, all over my house things are exactly the way I think they're supposed to be!
PS Lynne, the world awaits your tutorials! I'm following instructions by someone else right now and I'm stunned once again by the quality of your photos and instructions. If only you'd written these instructions, I would not be uttering shocking words at such a pace.
Wow. Thanks! When Megan (from Sydney Australia) was here she showed the tute to her husband. I don't remember his exact words but he said something like "Not everybody can do this at all, let alone so well."
Reversible, two sided, of course. I have a few I use in that fashion, and I rarely piece my backs! Do as the spirit of the moment moves you.
I think in this case particularly, both sides are great! I could certainly see using the back side up on the table.
I've made at least three quilts that could be reversed. It's fun to have options!
Although all of your quilts have interesting backs, it seems to me that this one IS reversible because both sides fit the description (Black and White Slashed Squares) equally well.
I'm a new quilter working on my first quilt. I have always envisioned my quilts to have a pieced back incorporating some of the left overs from the front. I like the reversible idea.
Definitely a front and a back. that said, I can use the back at times too!
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