white quilting on blue background

6 Reasons Why I Use Solid Fabrics to Back My Quilts

First, let me say that I have never made a quilt top entirely of solid fabrics.  I’m working on one using the MavaNell Studio Logo block right now though.  I have grown to love solid fabrics for borders, bindings, and backings.  Here’s why.

I was in a quilt store in Savannah, Georgia many years ago and found some beautiful charm packs I just had to have.  The fabric was Za Za by Erin Micheal.  You can see the quilt I made from it here.  I purchased two charms packs.  I should have purchased three, but I would not have discovered the usefulness of solids if I had.

I had these charm pack squares on my design wall for a long time.  I just could not decide how best to make a pattern from the two packs.  I finally came up with a pattern I liked by creating blocks of like color and using a solid square in the center of each block.  Now my only problem was the overall size of the quilt.  It was a little short even for a lap-size.  And the fabric did not seem right for a baby quilt.

I searched the internet for more charm packs, fat quarters, yardage, anything in the fabric line.  I found two of the fabric patterns so I purchased some yardage which I eventually used as binding.  Two fabric patterns from the line did not solve my problem though.  I could not think of a way to use only two and not have it look odd.  At some point I discovered fabric swatch cards.

Both Robert Kaufman and Moda sell fabric swatch cards.  The cards had small squares of all the fabrics in the Kona (Robert Kaufman) and Bella (Moda) solids lines.  It was perfect.  I could find a coordinating solid and use it for top and bottom borders on the quilt.  I could even purchase enough to use as a backing on the quilt!

My love of solids was born.  I have never looked back.  I don’t back my quilts in prints anymore.  I don’t stress over buying a printed fabric.  I know I will always be able to find a coordinating solid that works for borders, backing, or sashing.

But, I especially love solid fabric because

  • It is cheaper than prints ($6.98 vs $11 – $12 per yard)
  • It showcases the quilting stitches and makes the back as beautiful as the front
  • No directional prints; no matching required
  • No right side or wrong side
  • No need to purchase the backing fabric at the same time I purchase fabric for the top
  • I can always find a color that matches a color in my quilt top

If you love solids too, take a peek at the solid bundles available at MavaNell Studio.  The fabrics in each bundle coordinate beautifully.  You can add as little or as much yardage of each color to your bundle as you like.  Don’t like one of the colors?  No problem.  Simply click the red X next to it in your cart to remove it entirely.

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