Lacelady-how interesting! You just gave me some new ideas. Thanks Your quilt is lovely.

Thanks to all for your input. I want to guilt the front one way and applique on the backing so they would have to be done separately. Thanks again. You ALL are GREAT.

There is a process call trapunto where you would do that in certain spots, adding extra batting, to make those parts of the quilt stand out more....hope I explained that well enough...

This is a pretty great thread. Lots of good ideas and new ways to save a not so pretty quilt backing. It also can be a great way to put two complete quilt tops back to back, making them reversible by season etc. Thanks for asking the original question, Mellie!

I frequently quilt and embellish art quilts without the backing. It's less of a worry and much neater if there is a lot of beading or other embellishment.

When the stitching is done, I use the envelope method (some call it birthing) to finish the quilt with a fused backing, either totally fused for small pieces or tack fused for larger ones.

I have not done that, but, now I have the idea, but my gafarbles have been acting up!!!!