Has anyone ever quilted a top and quilted a bottom separately and then joined the two with additional quilting?

I have some fabric that has a wonderful print on it (clouds) and I want to use it for top and bottom. My thought was to quilt each cloud individually, but if I only did top, then the clouds on top would not match up with clouds on bottom. So I was thinking I could line top and bottom with some very lightweight white fabric quilt the top, quilt the bottom, and then put them together and quilt them as a whole with the applique quilting that I am planning.

Has anybody ever done anything like that? Does it sound like it would be feasible? I would LOVE some input.

Never heard of it done like that, but that doesnt mean someone hasnt done it. I would try it on a sample piece first because your final quilting would be through 4 layers of fabric and 2 layers of batting not to mention your applique. What kind of machine would you be quilting this on? Can it handle that much thickness?

Could you tie the two of them once they were both quilted?

I think I'd use very thin batting (since it would be two layers) and an almost cheesecloth type material to hold it in place.

I've got a Brother machine, but it's handled my fleece and flannel rag quilts well, and I've mended blue jeans on it well before.

it will end up looking like a window, hence clouds, and then I'm appliqueing on the front window sills and a cat looking out the window, and then on both layers a sun and sunbeams...

so that from the front, it looks like you're looking outside, but from the back, it would almost look like you were outside just seeing the sun.

i've done what you're suggesting.

i did it for a client that wanted the quilt to be reversible.

i used flannel as a light weight layer and then when i combined the top with the bottom i put warm and natural in.

the only problem i had was, i quilt on a domestic machine and even though the quilt was only about 5 feet square it was super heavy to move around for free motion quilting.

kluedesigns -- but it turned out okay? I have this picture in my head of what it will look like, but since it's the first time I've done it, I've scared spitless of screwing it up.

Especially since it's for a mini-quilt exchange. It will only be about 18" x 24" so weight isn't really a problem.

The quilt that won 1st prize at the Houston International Quilt Festival in 2006 was quilted separately. She quilted the top then the backing to the top, but it was hand quilted.

I don't see why your idea would not work. You could probably use flannel for the batting. I don't think two pieces of flannel between the top and backing would be too heavy. It depends on how light or heavy you like your quilts.

Good luck and let us know what you do and oh yes, a picture would be wonderful.

PS She won $10,000 with that quilt!!!!

quiltykitty - I notice you're from N. Texas. Where? I'm in Fort Worth. I've been thinking about trying to find some quilting groups in the area or something.

I've never made any "real" quilts until now and I've never taken any classes either, so I'm sort of nervous of branching out of my comfort zone even though I know I'll love it.

I notice you're from N. Texas. Where?

I'm north of you in Sherman. Check with your local quilt shops for classes. Also check on quilds in your area.

I've done something similar, when I wanted a warmer lap quilt. I made the top and did a lot of decorative quilting to the batting, then backed it with a fleece fabric, and quilted through all the layers around the blocks, so that the fleece didn't pull away from the top quilted sandwich. It measures 45 in x 65 in, and I managed quite well with it under the machine. The machine had no problem going through all the layers, and its warm and cozy in the winter months.