This one’s going to be a beast! Here are blocks 30 of 36 on my design wall….it’s not tall enough for all 6 rows. This is a ‘Quilt in a Day’ quilt, and it can probably be done, but this one is the ‘Square Queen’ size and will finish at about 88×88 once I add the border and it took me longer than one day! I’m going with a solid black border to pull it all together.
Edited….I looked and looked at the first layout and I liked it, but I don’t think it was what I was really going for. So the kids & I switched it up a bit and added the final row on the floor for the ‘full’ effect. What do you think? I didn’t set up the studio lights so it’s not fantastic, but you see where I’m going with this….
I hate to say this, but I’m second-guessing my choice of backing fabric. Right now I have this 108″ backing:
I’m doubting it for a couple of reasons….one is that a fellow blogger commented about how much it bled when she washed it. Her comment made me think about pre-washing – something I don’t do with quilting fabric. I don’t want to have a pre-washed back and not pre-washed top….I’m kinda stuck.
I also can’t decide if the circles is too busy for a back for this top. There’s a lot going on with the top fabrics and I just don’t know if I should add more craziness to be back.
Fellow blogging peeps, I need help……what do I do about the back?
Wanna-Be-Quilter 
I like the backing fabric. I think the juxtaposition of the circles with the straight lines on the front really works. I made a red and white quilt a while back and was afraid it would bleed too. I used a couple color catchers in the wash with cold water and they came out red/pink but there wasn’t any bleeding on the quilt. I don’t know how badly this fabric might bleed, it’s a tough call. (Wasn’t that a lot of help??) 🙂
Do you have enough of the backing fabric that you could cut some and wash along with an old white wash cloth or some white fabric? I’ve even just washed a fat quarter or sample of fabric in a large Ziploc bag, adding a bit of laundry soap and warm water. Agitate it by hand and let it sit for a while. It would give you some info about how bad it may bleed. I agree with Beth that the fabric design is fine and would work with the front. I’ve had some red fabric that color catchers & cold water was fine, but other fabric kept bleeding after multiple washings.
I also like the backing fabric. It brings out the red in the quilt top. Can you cut a small piece of the backing fabric and wash it to see how badly it bleeds?
That is looking amazing Julie! I like how the largest white swirls together! I like the backing, but totally understand not being sure about it bleeding. I am interested to see the responses you get.
I agree that the second arrangement looks best, but then, Barn Raising is my favorite setting for Log Cabin blocks, so I might be a tad bit biased.
i totally like the second arrangement and the backing as well!
i can see how you would fear it bleeding, as would i with something that red. tough call for sure.
Hi! I’m in the process of making a ‘quilt in a day’ log cabin too! Mine’s only 16 blocks and I’ve put it together as whirligig pattern. I like the barn raising arrangement you’ve put together and to my mind the backing is a good compliment to the top. I’d take the advice given by others and give a piece of the proposed backing fabric a wash with white fabric and a colour catcher and see what happens.
Perhaps we could form a ‘quilt in a month’ group to get over the disappointment of not being able to make a quilt in a day? 🙂
Glad you re-thought the layout. I liked the first one…then you posted the second and I LOVE it! The backing seems a bit busy and the fact it might bleed, um, no thank you. Take no chances! What about a gray with accent pieces of the red and one of the blacks you used on the front?
Whatever you do….I already love it.
Becki
This quilt is beautiful and I like the second layout the best!
Yup, I like the new layout better, too. And I like the red with circles for the back. I understand your hesitation, though.
Pingback: Sunday Stash Stripes | Wanna-Be-Quilter