FMQ after quilt is bound

[Cheyenne]

So in my rush to finish my IQ quilt, I just quilted in the ditch. But I had plans to do some FMQ on it. It shouldn't matter, right, that it's got binding on it?
I'm just curious as I was thinking this might be an easier way to finish quilts...just that you don't have extra fabric on the edges to deal with and all is secure if you've stitched the basic areas in the ditch. Any thoughts?

[Joan@DebtofGratitude]

The last quilt I made, I did some basic channel stitching with my walking foot in a large grid pattern. Then I went back and added FMQ designs in the spaces between the channel stitching. Not only did I find this helpful in terms of securing my quilt better than pinning, having a limited area (between the lines) to FMQ helped me not get "lost."

I suppose the same would hold true even if the quilt was already bound. I'm no expert, but makes sense to me.

[SiobhanF]

I have added more fmq to a quilt after it was bound with no ill effects. I've also heard from people who quilt competitively that they've added more fmq to a quilt in response to judges comments. But that was a little here, a little there, so it may matter how heavily you're planning to fmq. I would check the bottom regularly to make sure no pleats are being quilted in, but I'd say go for it.

[coffeebreak]

I wouldn't think it would matter. FMQ is done first, I assume, simply to make sure all the layers are laying flat and everything is smooth and the stitches are not puckering the fabric etc, That is why they say start FMQ/STID in the middle of the quilt and work to the sides. If you have SITD already done, that would solve several of those issues. I would think the only thing you might have a concern would be if BETWEEN the STID area, fabric is flat and smooth and when you FMQ it is done on flat smooth fabric layers. If the STID is off some, it could mean a pucker of fabric in the enclosed area which means when you FMQ you'd have fabric puckers or more fabric in the area that the STID allowed and FMQ over that might look bumpy. But I'd think you could see that before you started and maybe sew around it or make adjustments. Could make for an interesting design tho...if the STID is done and there is a pucker of fabric in the area..then FMQ in a design way that the pucker fabric turns into a puffy area, thus making a nice 3-D effect!

[Bubby]

I think there are pros and cons to doing FMQing after a quilt is bound. Make sure your quilt is smooth on the top and bottom before you quilt. I worry that the FMQing might work fullness toward the edge of your design area and be poofy. I've never tried this, but I have added some additional hand quilting after binding with no problems.

[Jean Sewing Machine]

I've done it, even put a couple back on the longarm to quilt after they had been finished. No problem. The only thing I can see as aroblem is if you didn't do some sort of anchor stitching first, you could get tucks in the backing.

[Cheyenne]

Thank you for your helpful replies. Nice to know other's have tried it successfully. I do worry about getting puckers, especially on the back. I didn't get that as tight as I would have liked it. In the past, I've been able to baste my quilts on a hard wood floor, but this one was too big, so I did it on a carpeted area. It didn't work so well. So maybe doing some hand quilting, which I'm very new to, would be better still? Will have think on it...I like the idea of working any extra fabric on top, into the quilting design; great idea!

[MartinaG]

Stitch in the ditch secures your quilt. It won't "grow" after you secure it which supports additional quilting within the SID.

[easyquilts]

The last quilt I made, I did some basic channel stitching with my walking foot in a large grid pattern. Then I went back and added FMQ designs in the spaces between the channel stitching. Not only did I find this helpful in terms of securing my quilt better than pinning, having a limited area (between the lines) to FMQ helped me not get "lost."

I suppose the same would hold true even if the quilt was already bound. I'm no expert, but makes sense to me.

I have always quilted the grid first....for stability...than added anything else I wanted to do. I have even done this with some hand quilting projects.... And,,, I have added quilting after binding a couple if times... Why not?

[ellietow]

The only thing is that the border may be more difficult to quilt because you won't have 2-3 inches on the side ( that you'll have cut off) to stabilize your quilt as you FMQ.