So I have been working on quilts for my kids and a couple kids that my sister wanted to give quilts too. I was making two zig zag quilts at the same time. Got both tops done and because I am using cuddle plush fabric as the backing and didn't want a bunch of quilting on the plush material I always quilt the top to the batting, then wash and dry it, then quilt a line through each zig zag to the backing. Works PERFECT doing
it this way because I don't prewash my fabric or batting so everything shrinks at the same time prior to attaching the plush which is polyester which we all know won't shrink. Well. I basted both tops to batting yesterday and got the one quilted, then last night started on the second one. I finished it up this morning and tossed it in the washer. I need to have it done by saturday for my sons birthday. Not a big deal I have plenty of time to get it finshed. UNTIL....I pull it out of the washer and realize OH MY GOD. I quilted with the scrim side of the batting next to the top instead of out! thus leaving only a layer of scrim on my quilt top and batting in the seams! I am heading to joann's this evening to buy 4 yards of fabric to start over! My sister will take the quilt with scrim and remove all the stitches and I'll just use it for a gift quilt at a later date! I don't think Zach will be getting his quilt for his birthday. Maybe a belated birthday gift!

So if anyone has read my posts before about quilting the top to the batting and adding the plush backing after. Always make sure you are quilting with the scrim side OUT! Next time I will make sure to take my own advice!

Wow, I have never heard of doing it that way.

I have used plush poly fabric for the backing and the batting was cotton, and a cotton pieced top. Washed it and it all looks good.

Having never quilted the top to the batting only, could you explain what happened. If I ever do a quilt this way, I want to understand what the problem is related to the scrim. Does the batting pull away from the scrim as you quilt?

I have a suggestion. What about using a layer of thin cotton (Bastiste-?spl or something else) as an inside backing layer when you are doing the quilting of the top? Then after quilting the top add the cuddle plush backing.

Do you tack the backing in any way to the top or does is it completely held by the outside seams?

Pictures of your outcome would be helpful if you don't mind sharing. We remember pictures so much more.

Thank you for sharing your sewing tragedy and the humbleness for admitting that it wasn't the first time. Hopefully we QB members can learn from your mistake without doing it ourselves.

Good luck with your quilting and please keep us updated on the progress of your project.

Pam M

Sorry, I'm having problems visualizing why you don't just pre wash your fabric? I've never heard of anyone washing a top with batting only. I would think it would fall apart every time, not just this once.

Yeah not sure what happened? did it mess up the batting then? Why can't you just add the plush now?

OMG! Did your washer drain plug up, too? Not that starting over on your quilt isn't enough of a problem, but I keep wonder what will happen on your next load of laundry?!?!?!

Wow, you probably have the world's largest cotton ball!

It is now polyfill.

I am sorry but I don't understand scrim. I have never heard it before.
Looking it up now.

Im confused from top to bottom on this one.

The scrim is like a thin interfacing or netting (I think) that would prevent the batting from washing away if it is facing out. Facing in, or on the wrong side of the top, the batting is 'loose' and washes away.

Ok I am going to try expliaining it!

What I do is make the top like any other top, then I baste it like any other quilt top MINUS the backing. Then I quilt it like any other quilt. MINUS the backing. Then once I am done quilting I stitch around the outside of the whole quilt so the edges don't fray in the wash. I throw it in the wash, toss it in the dryer. Pull it out, baste it to the backing and do VERY MINIMAL quilting through all three layers. Just enough to hold them together so the backing doesn't become baggy!

The scrim is a mesh like stuff that holds the warm and natural together. So when I quilt I quilt with it OUT. Well NORMALLY thats how I do it. If you do not do it like that, this is the result!

Okay -- I understand WHAT you do now but I don't understand WHY you do it that way. Seems like a lot of work!!!?????

Some how it all got caught up on itself and I only had a few little pieces in the washer. lol However I am left with a NICE fat MESS!

Anyways, I have moved on to the next! Zach will understand. lol thankfully he doesn't know he is supposed to be getting it. I'll get his done next week!

I do it this way because I don't like baggy backs. Why not quilt all three layers at the same time throughout the whole top? because I don't like all the quilting in the cuddle plush fabric either! I know, to picky but thats just how it is! lol And actually the only "extra" work, is basting the second time and I only have to do about 1/4 as much as you do when you quilt all three layers, and actually I only baste the top and batting about 1/4 as much as normal because I don't have to worry about wrinkles! so actually I am only basting half as much as a normal quilt even though I do it twice.

Its really not that bad, had I not hit this snag I would have finished two 48"x60" quilts in two days!

Thanks for the pictures! I am so sorry :( What a huge mess :( Ughh that is so frustrating. I never knew that you could quilt and wash without the back. If you do it the right way :) So sorry

You know, I would personally never do it this way, but that's what I love about quilting and quilters - we each have our own way of doing things that works for us and that's all that matters! :D

Does the scrim side let the batting slide easily? I can't help thinking the batting would stick on the feed dogs.

i use Heirlooms 80/20 cotton batting. usually fusible. and i'
ve put the batting under the top and fused and quilted it and then added backing and done the binding. then washed!! if i spray basted, i do the top to the batting and turn over and spray the backing to the batting, then quilt.
i think i only have one pkg of batting that mentions scrim. i will watch that one but still, i add backing before washing the quilt.

Hmm....I'm looking at my warm and natural batting here...and I sure can't tell if it has a scrim on it. Maybe I've been lucky as my quilts don't beard & I just presumed the needle punching now kept it without the scrims that the poly batts used.

Honestly, I don't even think people realize there is scrim there, you can't see it, the cotton is needle punched through it. Its nothing that you can really feel or notice unless you are really LOOKING for it. In cases like THIS! lol

Warm and Natural has scrim so if you use it you have probably never noticed a difference, but it is there!

if you cut a little piece off of it and try rubbing a hole in it the cotton will pull away from the scrim. It is easier to do if your finger is damp. I don't really know what the scrim is there for all I know is if its not on the outside when I do quilts this way the batting falls apart, obviously!

I am sorry for all the confusion my quilting method has caused.
You all will be happy to know that I do quilts without plush backings the "traditional" way! lol

Actually I was thinking it was a pretty neat way to do it. I don't always like all the quilting on the back either.

What is scrim? I read all the comments and understand what scrim is now.

justwannaquilt, you have a lot of strength to go back and be willing to start over. I've made over 600 quilts, and trust me, I've done worse. Somehow, our mistakes make us wiser technicians in the art of quilting. Thanks for sharing. You probably helped a hundred quilters by sharing your error.

My egregious machine quilting mistake made me realize, every time I start a quilt, look on the back after the first few stitches, and then again, after 6 square inches have been quilted.

I don't understand why you can't base all three layers, quilt and then wash. What do you mean by plush? The LQS has done minkee on the back and quilts it. Little confused.

Thank you for posting your mistake,,It is a very interesting read. Learn something new every day.LOL. I like the way you put your quilts together.I will try this next time...

OH MY!!! Bless you for your perseverance!

I am sorry, I am sitting here laughing at the comments. Do you sincerely wish you had never posted this one?

This is what I really, really love about this board... I have learned so much reading these posts! I'm sorry for your mess, I admire your tenacity, and you have made me a better quilter. Thanks so much! I can't wait to try a quilt your way.

Oh dear , I feel so bad for you Better luck next time.

Me too...what is scrim?

Thank you. Never realized there to be a right and a wrong side of batting. Must remember this from now on.

how do you tell the difference have only used cotton batt. once

an interesting lesson thanks for posting

Ugh so sorry. Thanks for the heads up. Just this last week I was thinking of quilting it this way.

This was very interesting to read and I'm glad you posted it! It opened up some new possibities for me as the amount of quilting I might want to do to compliment the top isn't always what I want on the back especially if the back is a plush fabric. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Ok, I'll bite, what is "scrim"?

I use plush as a very broad term. I would quilt this way if I were using fleece, minkee, chenille, ultra cuddle (from joann's which i am using on these), pretty much anything that is polyester and stretches! I for whatever reason I don't really know really don't like when the "pile" of the fabric is all layed down by the quilting on the back. doing it this way minimizes this effect.

I agree if all fabric and batting are prewashed or if there is enough quilting done through all three layers there is no need for doing it this way. However, I don't prewash and I don't like a lot of quilting, so this is how I do it!

I'm gonna go take pictures and post them of a front and back of a quilt done this way. You'll see what I am talking about.