Quilting using the backing design
 

I'm curious if anyone has ever quilted their quilt following the design on the backing. If yes, would you have any advice?

yes, on my long arm I did add a strip of plain muslin to all 4 sides so I had something to clamp onto other than the top (which was actually on the bottom). Loaded the backing like it was the top and started quilting. Worked very well.

Great inquiry and a terrific idea to have in your quilting library...thank you both for posting and sharing.

I’ve done it a couple of times - it’s fun! No advice needed, just turn the quilt over and start quilting!

it's a great idea in my estimation.

I did once and pulled it out...back side was cheater Wedding Ring Design and my front was Irish Chain. Since I'm not a FM'er I did it w/walking foot just following the design. Nope didn't like it so rip/rip/rip...

Benartex fabrics has a wide backing that is printed in a wash out ink of a meandering feather design. The intention is to quilt from the back. My problem is sometime my backside that is now the front side doesn’t look as good as the front side which is now the backside.

I’ve done that several times. Since it involves sewing on the backside of the quilt, I usually get anxious that the tension will get funny. So I constantly flip it over to check it- but that’s probably just me. But other than that, it worked out well. Once I had an Angela Walters backing and the quilting looked so good on the front. I was like “Hey I’m Angela!”

Thank you for your comment. I wish I had a long arm or at the very least a mid arm machine. My current set up is a Janome 1600P on the Little Gracie II frame. The backing I intend to use for this quilt project is multiple circles which isn't a problem at the beginning of the quilting process but becomes one the further I go because of the decreased space made from rolling up the quilt. I could of course do it sitting at my sewing table but in all honesty I don't much care for struggling with a quilt in that manner. So I probably won't pursue this idea - drats anyway.

I've done this before, if your tension is good and the stitches look good on both sides, it is awesome for those of us who are a bit design challenged... I used a large Hawaiian print.

I've wondered about the tension too. I think I would have to play with this concept first before turning myself loose on a big project.

I did that on my last quilt. There's a book dedicated to that idea, but I can't remember the name. My fabrics on the front of the quilt were so busy, I couldn't imagine being able to see what I was quilting, so I chose a backing with the idea that I would use that as a quilting guide. The only problem I had was that I forgot my plan when basting my quilt, so I had to reach under to remove my basting stitches, which was kind of annoying. I did have concerns about tension, but it worked out fine.

When you get close to the center of the quilt, take the quilt off the frame and reload it so the un-done half is on top. Since you are following the backing fabric design, that ought to work well for you. Of course this assumes that you have basted the sandwich to keep it straight while quilting.

This is the kind of genius solution I'd never think of! I love it...think I'll have to try a small sample project!

I also had a cheater wedding ring top. I have a log cabin on the back. I quilted around the circles and am very happy with it. My sister wondered how I got such perfect circles on the cabin..I always wanted a wedding ring but not the work.

While I have never done it I have seen comments that by quilting from the back which has few seams your quilt glides through under the foot more easily and there isn't the hesitation that you often get when quilting from the front as the foot approaches a seam intersection.

I had a fabric with some beautiful flowers on the back and just outlined the flowers from the back. Then I turned the quilt over and filled in with echo quilting or stippling where I thought it was needed. Being OCD I tried to center the flowers in each block.

I did it with a fleece wildlife panel for the backing and quilting around the animals etc. It was great seeing the design from the front of the quilt too.

Like Iceblossom I used a Hawaiian print on the back. My tension was good and the quilt looked great on the front!