I am in the middle of a quilt for my ds and i am trying to make it the way he wants it. The top is blue denim with white stars and am putting white sashing around each block. The backing is dallas cowboy material and he wants it to be one piece with no sewing (or quilting) so that the full dallas cowboy designs shows on the back. The front he doesnt care if I quilt how can i do that and not quilt the backing?

I dont think you can.

I also don't think you can. You must have something to hold the sandwich together.
As a test, take two sheets, put some batting in the middle and seam around all 4 sides with a slip stitch (big stitches easy to remove). Then abuse it. Roll around on the top of it, wash it, wiggle it around, pull the two sheets apart from each other, shake it. That batting is going to lump and begin to come apart. That's what I think.
Think about the Dallas Cowboy design. There must be something on it you could outline with your stitches. Got any pictures?????

Hope I can explain this right :lol: Use muslin as your 1st backing(Your top, batting, muslin) quilt as you like, then add 2nd backing ( Dallas Cowboy back) sew it on pillow sham style( place print side to muslin and sew all four sides leaving about six inches or more unsewn, then turn inside out, press.You might also just back tack the Dallas side in a few hidden places to hold it place.Result- quilted top ,plain back. :thumbup:

Added: Think quilted pillow sham, turn one inside out and look at it, it has an inner lining ( the batting does not show) and a split backing to hold the pillow in.In this case for the quilt it would be solid not split. Hope this helps :-D :-D :-D

If the back isn't attached to the front with quilting or tying, it will be like a big pocket that's sewn closed. Maybe you can tie it without distorting the design on the backing.....Were you planning to put anything between the two layers? ;)

Ditter

are the Dallas symbols very big? Maybe quilt it from the back and just go outline them? That way there is nothing going through them and they are still quilted.

Tell your son wanting and getting are two different things.
:wink:

Seriously, while the suggestion of having it as a secondary backing put on after quilting would indeed work, I'm not quite sure how it would hold up. I guess it would be ok. kind of like a duvet cover on a comfortor but only on the back.

Maybe you can use invisable thread on something and show him,if he likes it you could quilt the quilt with that.

How about explaining the situation to/with him and see what he comes up with?

Who knows? The two of you might invent a new technique.

If you really want to do this, I would do the secondary back thing, and then maybe tie it in 4-8 places (so not close together) just so the cowboys back doesn’t flop around, but since you have the secondary back you don’t need as many ties so you wouldn’t obscure the fabric.

Good Luck!
Rachel

I like the 'wanting and getting' are two different things.
You didn't say how old your son is. I'm just thinking guys are tough on things. If he is going off to college it is going to get some wear. If it is a decoration quilt the secondary backing idea sounds great but if it is a quilt for use and washing it seems like the d/c fabric will be free to rub as it washes and it will get the little nubbies on the fabric.
Can't wait to see how you decide. I love challenges. Especially when they belong to someone besides me. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Just had a thought about this. Could you use some plain backing fabric and quilt the whole top, leaving off the binding.

Then once this is done make it up like a duvet cover with fasteners along the bottom.

The top can be quilted however detailed you like it, and the back is untouched as he wants it, and unless he looks he won't see the fastening.

Also, when it comes round to winter or really cold nights, he has the added bonus of being able to add a duvet into his quilt. :wink: :oops:

Just noticed this idea has already been posted.

I don't know what the Cowboy's fabric looks like, but couldn't you use clear thread and outline quilt around the logos (quilt with the "back" on top)? it would actually make the logos stand out and then they'd sort of be repeated on the top of the quilt.

How about using flannel for the batting and quilting just those two layers. Then attach the backing when you put the binding on.

You guys are pretty inventive. I think the binding idea might work

To answer one of the questions here is a picture of the backing.

To respond to another one, the idea of a quilted pillow was what I was thinking of because i wasnt planning on putting battng in as it will make it to heavy cause i am using denim.

I like the idea of tacking it in strategic places but not sure what they should be.

Thanks for everyones responses.

If the front is denim I think she'll need a lot more than six inches to turn it, even if it is only a twin that is a lot of bulk to pull thru a small hole.

lots of good ideas from others already, let us know what you decide, have fun

You could use navy blue yarn or embroidery thread to tie the quilt. Make it so the "tie" part of it is on the back, right in the middle of the large stars. That way, it will still hold up, but you won't distort the pattern on the back.

Clear as mud? :lol:

i think i read earlier that you hadn't planned to use batting. if that's correct, then you don't really need to quilt it at all.

i don't remember ... is it a rag quilt, or will the seams be on the inside? if the seams are on the inside, you'll want to line it with someting to reduce lumpiness on the back (if that description makes sense). a nice, thick, prewashed flannel should do the trick. or a superthin cotton batting. (quilter's dream makes a really thin batting ... either "select" or "request" loft ... i can never remember which is the thinnest.)

anyhoooo ... do whatever you want to the top and lining. when it comes time to add the cowboys backing fabric, use a sturdy needle and thread that matches the fabric. take a small stitch that goes through the backing and lining. run the needle and thread under the backing as far as you can before you bring the needle back "up for air". then take another small stitch. repeat this, spacing them either evenly or randomly. the small stitches using matching thread should be all but invisible unless you look very closely.

i often do this when i want to make sure all the layers are secured to each other, but don't want the quilting stitches to detract attention from the piecing and or backing fabric. i will even go as far as to "blind quilt" the top to the batting first (hiding the stitches in the seam ditches) and then do the same to secure the backing to the other layers. on goes the binding when it's all done.

if you use a long needle, you'll be surprised how far apart you can place your stitches.

Quilt it from the back and use the logo as the quilt motif. That way he can still see the logo without lines going through it, just around it and accenting it. He won't be happy if it is saggy.

Kas

I like the idea of just quilting around the stars in the back. That would hold it. That is going to be one heavy quilt.

Yes heather quilts klear as mud, lol I think I am going to do your suggestion.

:lol: Let us know how it turns out, whatever you decide to do! :D

Tell him to not tell you how to construct a quilt. (Sorry, but why be in a delima when he obviously doesn't have a clue?)

ok, so sandwich the top,batting and a piece of plain muslin-quilt that. Then take the backing piece and use steam a seam or wonder under or some light weight fusible and put the backing on, then sew on bnding, hem down and whalla' you have your completed project!

Let me just throw this suggestion into the mix.

Take yonr quilt top, batting and a muslin backing and quilt as usual. Then take the Dallas Cowboy fabric and add WomderUnder to the BACK of the Cowboy fabric. Iron it on really well. Peel off the paper sheet and iron it to the quilted muslin. Then bind all four layers together.

I would think it would hold for quite some time. If it comes loose and will not re-adhere, you could always go back and tack it latter on.

Just a thought.
Virginia

Have you thought about putting this child up for adoption??? Just kidding! What a loving parent you are for trying so hard to make his quilt just like he wants it to be. The world needs a whold lot more like you!

Explain and ask him if he wants this quilt to last. Without quilting, the batting will bunch, etc. with time and move with time. I would plan the quilting (using invisible thread) so that it doesn't interfere with design. Don't do anything fancy or meandering when quilting.

I agree! This is how I would do it. Thanks amazon!

I think he needs Dallas Cowboy sheets... and a beautiful quilt on top! Which side is he more excited about anyway?

If it isn't held together with quilting, the batting will shift and bunch when it's washed. I like the idea of making a muslin "false" backing, then putting the other backing over the top. That would probably work.

Another idea. Can you tie it instead of quilting it?

So many suggestions, thanks. To answer a few questions, he is 35 years old and this quilt is for watching the games on his 52 inch TV with the Dallas cowboys side showing and keeping warm while he is watching and at the same time showing his friends who all come over to watch, who his favorite team is and that his mom made it. I only see my loving son once a year sometimes not even that and wanted it to be what he wanted, not what I wanted. His wife said no cowboy sheets as it wouldnt look good on her wrought iron canapy bed. They both have things that are important to them I guess as long as they are happy.

So after i finish the top I will decide but i am leaning toward using muslin and quilting the front to bring out the stars and then adding the backing on and tacking it at strategic places and binding it and calling it a day.

So thanks all for the suggestions and help.

Using muslim as backing and quilting, that is also what I would do. Then I would use the fusing that is made for applique-no sew. It holds very well because you do not sew it. I have bought it at Michaels but maybe some of the fabric stores have something similar. I think the tacking would take away from the quilting you did on the one side. Looking forward to seeing the finished project. Challenges are always fun! Sally :lol:

I would do the front with a muslim backing, quilt it, then attach the Dallas Cowboy print when adding the binding. I think that might work.

Isn't Dallas Cowboys the Star logo? Why not use that and quilt it in their colors.?

Use a big star quilting pattern. I till look really cool on the back as well as the front. Thanks for sharing your great idea. I may make one for my son.

You'll need to tack it in a couple places, or it'll be more apt to wear out, rip or many other travesties.

quilt stars on it

Can you stitch the quilt sandwich with the muslin and then add the Cowboy fabric on top of the muslin with this stuff called stitch witchery? Its made to adhere 2 pieces of fabric together with heat from your iron. Maybe hand-stitch around the sports logo and then top stitch it all together, then use quilt binding so they all have the edges sewn together. from, Debbie, Phoenix, AZ