damaquilts

I was thinking about how I do not want to do anymore large quilts but have about a half dozen of tops already done. Right now I am trying to machine quilt one and my hands and arms are dying here. So I started thinking about quilt as you go but What about if the top is already done?
How about QAYG without the backing? Just cut pieces of batting to cover the back of whereever you are at the time. Then putting the back on and doing a stitch in the ditch or some simple thing to hold the 3 layers together? It wouldn't matter as the batting would already be quilted.
Has anyone tried this before ? And can anyone think of any problems I haven't ?

janRN

When I made the Farmers Wife Sampler & FW Pony quilts this is exactly what I did. I quilted each block/batting separately then joined them with sashing & cornerstones. Then I put the back on in one piece and just quilted the sashing and cornerstone areas to "attach" the backing. I know some purists will gasp, but this is what works for me. The front is nicely quilted but the backing just has a grid quilted matching the sashing. (who looks at the backs?) I didn't want to do the back in squares with sashing like most QAYG sites teach; just don't like that much hand sewing anymore.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

Look for some videos on machine quilting in sections by Marti Michell. She has some good ideas on how to do sections of an already pieced quilt.

PaperPrincess

Yes, you can cut a section of batting at a time and sandwich it as you go. The back can be one full piece, but I've found it easier to also piece the backing as you go.

dunster

I recommend getting Marti Michell's book, Machine Quilting in Sections. Some of the methods in the book will work on a quilt top that's already put together.

katier825

Ditto what Dunster said! The book is a great resource.

My favorite way to quilt as you go is to use her "low fat" method, where you have your top and back done, but cut out some of the batting, do your quilting and piece the batting back together. It doesn't look like it was pieced in sections when done. You don't need strips to cover the seams.

damaquilts

Yep I knew I couldn't have thought up a new idea. LOL I am going to look for the book in my library. Hopefully they have. All spending is stopped this year unless its some thing to finish something already started. I have a bunch of vet bills to pay off and my trip down to be with my DD when we had to put our Greta to sleep.

Jingle

So sorry to hear about your dog Greta. I too had to have a 16 year old cat down mid August.

However you want to do your quilt will be fine. Your idea sounds good to me.