Is it possible to quilt without the backing fabric?

[Beth A.]

I am just venturing into the wide world of quilting and I seem to have quite a stash of fabric before I have even started my first real quilt!

Is it possible to quilt onto the batting without backing fabric? :shock:

I brought back a Michael Miller Christmas angel panel when I was in the USA last month but don't want the quilting to go through onto the Christmas Card backing fabric which I would like to quilt differently.

Is is possible to quilt each onto thin batting and then hand-stitch the battings together from the inside the quilt sandwich and then attach the borders?

I can't be the only bunny in the world that has wondered about this! :roll: Any help as to what this is called or how it is done I thought might be answered via this brains trust and would be most appreciated!

Cheers Amanda
(Starting early such that it will be ready for NEXT Christmas! - The blistering heat is not very condusive for quilting this time of year...)

[Teri L.]

Yes, you can quilt without the backing fabric attached to the back. Do all of the quilting as you've described then use the pillow turn method. Trim both quilts to the same size, place one on your basting space fabric side up. Then place the other piece on top fabric side down. Pin very, very well. Leaving space for an opening stitch the quilt closed say 80 - 90% enough to get in and turn the quilt out. Once you're done (and all of the pins are removed) turn the quilt fabric sides out. Pin the opening closed then top stitch and edge stitch all of the way around.
The only problem I foresee with this is that when this is washed the layers will shift unless you do some kind of quilting that will hold everything together. Look at both pieces of fabric and see if there's something you can quilt to hold all the layers together and voila! you're finished.
Happy quilting!
Teri

[Annette R.]

I do a variation of what you are talking about on reversible table runners or table toppers. I quilt each face to very thin batting or flannel and then pin the two together and do some quilting through all four layers. I usually only do a little quilting to attach the two sides together, just enough so they will not shift if they are washed. Then I trim and bind as usual. You could also lay the two layers together face to face and pillowcase then like Terri described and then do the final quilting (almost like stay stitching) just to hold the layers in place. Hope this helps, Ann

[Annette R.]

I do this sometimes also. The only thing I would add is that you not use polyester batting. It will get caught on the feed dogs.