GingerK

Just wondering if it is more of an European term?? There are many different names for the same item depending on where you live or were raised, and what you consider your native language. I guess you could call a quilt top 'flimsy' because it doesn't have the support of batting, backing or quilting.

PaperPrincess

I think this a term used in certain geographic regions, like spider/skillet, pop/soda, bubbler/drinking fountain, lattice/sashing etc. I don't think it's new or meant to be cutesy.

joe'smom

Yes, if it's handled those seams will keep fraying.

nativetexan

just another name for a quilt top. too many names, so i always say top.

Sync

I use quality fabric and also create well constructed quilt tops as well as finished quilts. My unfinished quilt tops are known as flimsies. I am never hurt or embarrassed by someone referring to my unfinished tops as flimsies. So I find it hard to understand where all this negativity over a one word comes from. Maybe some people are just way to sensitive.

ube quilting

Ginger, you have it exactly right. It is a top not yet supported with the batting, backing or quilting. An appropriate term in some circles. I actually like this term as it refers to a finished top and I like finished tops. UFO refers to a quilt in some state of assembly, it could be just in the planing stages, half way done or just the fabric cut, a much less specific term.
I would never be insulted if some one called my work a flimsy because I know what the term means and it has nothing to do with the quality of the work or fabric. There is my two cents on the subject except for the fact that I have about thirty of those "f"s in my closet waiting to become quilts.
peace

DOTTYMO

From UK and never heard the term until I saw it on here. We call a top a top, with wadding/batting and backing.

mary705

I've never heard that used before. The word "flimsy" caught my attention cause to me it ht seemed like it was about a "flimsy negligee"

Yooper32

It is not meant to be a derogatory word, it simply means a pieced top that is done but not sandwiched and quilted.

sewbizgirl

I'm not sensitive, I just hate that name. Personal preference. I think it's dumb. The top is the top... What then would you call a finished quilt? A "sturdy"? These words are adjectives, not nouns (names). That's where the cutesy part comes in, IMNSHO; using adjectives for names.

Dottymo, yes the back could ravel if the top was never finished, but I think these are meant to become whole quilts, eventually.