If you're going to tie your quilt, that is exactly how you would do it (although you CAN bind it after tying instead of birthing it). Machine quilting always distorts the backing and you'll end up needing to trim the top when you're done. With hand quilting, you have a little more control and it might possibly (maybe) be able to be done with the back the same size as the top. But I don't believe it would work machine quilting it.