FMQ with the back facing up

Has anyone ever tried FMQ on the back instead of the top? I did a sample piece and noticed that the back actually looked better than the top. The top was more crinkly and places where I left more space between my design was puffy and obvious. The fabric on the back was much more smooth. I used spray to hold the sandwich together and it was smooth.

I'm also thinking that it will be harder to see where I've been on the top because of all the different prints. It is a fence rail variation so there are lots of different fabrics.

Here are pics so you can hopefully see what I'm talking about. The first one is the back of the sample. The second one is the front which doesn't show the puffiness as much as is seen in real life. The bottom one is the quilt that I'll be quilting.

Are there disadvantages to FMQing on the back?

That is so funny, I was just thinking about doing this today. Looks good to me!

I've been thinking about trying that too....I've noticed that the back often looks nicer than the front.

That was one of the tips on a recent Fons & Porter episode....quilt on the back if the top has a lot going on or is very busy. Much easier to see where you're going & where you've been. You can put decorative thread in the bobbin & just have fun. (so they say....I am not that good yet...)

There are NO rules....NO Quilting Police here. If it works for you..do it!! (just have to share with the gang here!! )

I'll have to try this. it definately shows a difference.

In this case, because your top is busier than the back, it's a good way to see if you have full and even coverage of quilting over your quilt, esp if doing FMQ. Many quilters will use a busy fabric for the back with flowers, quilt from the back and use the floral motif to quilt around. If you were doing SID or crosshatching (straight lines in a grid) then I would stick to the front.

BTW, your quilting looks really good. Great job!

That is some nice quilting! I never thought to do it that way. I just make squiggles.

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Originally Posted by Denis

In this case, because your top is busier than the back, it's a good way to see if you have full and even coverage of quilting over your quilt, esp if doing FMQ. Many quilters will use a busy fabric for the back with flowers, quilt from the back and use the floral motif to quilt around. If you were doing SID or crosshatching (straight lines in a grid) then I would stick to the front.

BTW, your quilting looks really good. Great job!

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Thanks! The only thing I've FMQed before is some stippling on my sewing machine cover and a little on a wall hanging where I followed the lines of a template. The practice piece went pretty well, but I know that it's much harder on an actual quilt.

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Originally Posted by madampolo

That is some nice quilting! I never thought to do it that way. I just make squiggles.

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Thanks! Personally, I've tried the squiggles/stippling and I think it is harder than the loop-de-loop.

I am going to try this next week. I have a very loud colored, busy little quilt with a lot of HST and the back is pink with multi colored polka dots. I bought a quilting template and I have one of those powder bags so I am going to put the design on the back and see how this works out.

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Originally Posted by Claire Hallman

I am going to try this next week. I have a very loud colored, busy little quilt with a lot of HST and the back is pink with multi colored polka dots. I bought a quilting template and I have one of those powder bags so I am going to put the design on the back and see how this works out.

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Let us know how it goes. :)

Looks great. Thanks for the idea.

Looks good. Love the colors of your quilt.

I bought a FMQ class on Craftsy and the instructor pressed her quilt sandwich after the had sprayed and smoothed it out. It got out every last crease and puff and was totally flat on the front and back after whe machine quilted it! That's something we all might want to try next time we FMQ. I think your quilt looks great and I have heard about quilting from the backside, especially if there is a good print/pattern to follow from the backing fabric. Barb

Your post came at the right time! I just had finished a "busy" top so I decided to try your idea. IT does work! My top was 4" squares with sashing inbetween. Back was a floral pattern. I put cream thread on top and light brown on bobbin...and did meandering on the back...it did work, but I was so intent on trying this out that I forgot...if you flip the quilt, you have to flip the threads too! So the dark thread was now on the bottom and light on the top when I wanted it the other way around! But it still looks okay. But I will be keeping this in mind for future quilts. I am making a bunch of lap quilts for the ladies at my church prayer group in the mornings...pretty cold in that church in the mornings so these will be appreciated! And I am trying to mkae the colorful just to brighten up the little room they are in.

Thanks for all your input. I probably will try doing it on the back, but I have to redo all my pins. That's okay though...it will still be easier than trying to see where I'm at if I quilt on that busy top.

Barb thanks for your tip about ironing. I never thought about that.

Leah Day actually talks about quilting from the back in one of her tuts.