Summer quilts and FMQ?
 

Hello quilting ladies. I need your collective wisdom.

I'm making an infant car seat canopy for my son. It's 34"x40" and I'm building it loosely on the Super 9 Patch quilt pattern. Since we live in Southern AZ, I obviously can't use any batting, he's gonna choke in his tent if I do.

It's a bit like this, but a pieced top in a dragon theme :

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XbPsx2waXI...0/DSCF9383.JPG

So my top is finished, complete with a mesh roll-up window and a dragon applique. I'm backing it with light muslin so it's as breathable as possible.

My question is, can one FMQ a summer quilt made only of a top and backing? My concern is that if I don't FMQ and just quilt in the ditch, the fabric will be too loose and look like puckered sheets (I have squares that are 9x13). But if I do, I might end up distorting the whole quilt top because there isn't enough weight to hold it together.

What's the consensus on FMQ and summer quilts? Google has been rather useless and my test on scrap fabric is inconclusive at best.

Thank you!

I don't see why not. I would quilt it before I put on the binding.

Itshould not make any difference, you will have 2 layers of fabric. Quilting will help keep them together. Please send Pics when your done!

Sure, you can quilt two layers of fabric together. I'd spray baste them first and then FMQ away!

I've wondered the same thing. Summer quilts are the way to go in Southeast Texas. Glad you started this thread.

I have done several king size 2-layer quilts for summer and they came out fine.

I had a bit of an issue with physics.

The quilt it too small to bind it, and too light for the binding to look good, so I figured I'd... not sure of the term, but I pieces the backing and the top right sides together, stitched rounded corners and turned inside out. Which works GREAT when you don't have a mesh window in the middle that you... stitched down in between the two layers. Went to turn it over and kinda raised my eyebrow when it wouldn't go through. Probably the finest moment in my young sewing career right there...

My morning was a date with the seam ripper and a cup of coffee. I've started FMQ and just stopped for a break - it's looking pretty good! Thanks for the info, ladies, I'll update with a picture once I'm done with the FMQ.

Ah-ha! We're done with the quilt itself. I'm working on the dragon applique flap that covers the mesh window while the canopy sloshes around in the wash.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...41235534_n.jpg

Will update with a final picture once the flap is on, but I'm starting to enjoy this quilting thing! :)

Thanks again for your help.