At some point in the quilt-making process you will decide how to finish off your quilt: Hand quilting, machine quilting or tying are 3 possibilities. Regardless of the method, you will need to create the quilt sandwich (quilt top, batting, and backing) and thoroughly baste to hold the layers together.
When tying your quilt, the knots can go either on the top or back of the quilt, decide based on aesthetics or comfort. If you want the ties on top, start by pushing the needle in from the top. If you want the ties on the back, start by pushing the needle through from the back.
Two common threads used to tie quilts are DMC perle cotton or crochet cotton. Thread a large-eyed needle with the strand you prefer.
The tying process follows.
• Insert the needle through all 3 layers and pull it out the other side, leaving a tail about 2’’ long at the beginning of the strand, long enough to tie.
• Push the needle back through all 3 layers, approximately 1/8’’ to 1/4’’ from the start. Pull the thread.
• Follow the steps shown in the photos to tie the knot.
caption: 1. Tie a half-knot.
caption: 2. Pull it tight.
caption: 3. Hold the two ends and the needle as shown.
caption: 4. Wind the thread around the needle. Then, pull the needle through the thread loops.
caption: 5. Hold the two tail ends of the thread.
caption: 6. Tighten the knot.
The preceding steps were summarized from the Super Simple Quilts series by Alex Anderson and Liz Aneloski.
Happy Quilting,
The Tech Editors
Part of the Quilting Tips from the Tech Editors tutorial series
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11 Comments
I use Eleanor Burns' method, tying a surgeon's knot.
I haven't tried tying a quilt yet.
I often tie my crazy quilts with pearl cotton and coming through the back of the quilt, into a bead on the front of the quilt and down to the back of the quilt again and tie with a surgeon's knot. Then, no ties show on the front, just more beads!
We tie Charity quilts but personallyI like to use Free Motion quilting.
I love quilting and the few I made I hand quilted. I bought a viking with all the gadgets and it's hard to do free motion and any design on my shoulders and back. So I sew all baby quilts pieces together then hand quilt tops. My very 1st quilt was a friendship quilt and I really enjoyed the sewing bees and time with friends. It seems now people are so busy with other things that I too have gotten behind. But I plan to step up my game and get a q, bee started in Jan 2010.
like both tie and handquilt, have not mastered the free motion quilting even though my machine is capable.I do use my machine to sew blocks together. Am working on a wild flower (North Carolina flowers) quilt and am doing it all by hand (appliqe etc.)Will see how it turns out.
This seems much too basic to be helpful. It doesn’t discuss spacing or aesthetic considerations or marking or anything. I would like to see more.
Very helpful. I am a new quilter and still trying to get it the way i like it to look. I find your information very clear and the pictures great. I am going to finish one with the tying method thanks to you.
Thanks for this infor. I live in Botswana and have no access to the teachers and experts. I will collect all you have to offer for future reference. Thanks for this service,
Please tell me about spacing-how much space between them. I am tying a quilt right now and would love to get a response ASAP. Thank you. Enid Parrish 1- 916-791 5212.
The spacing of your ties depends on a couple of things. First, consider the batting. The manufacturer gives spacing estimates on the packaging, and you can start from there. The next thing to consider is your pattern. If the blocks are small enough, then you can put a tie in the center of each, otherwise you could tie the corners of the blocks. Or, you can integrate the tie pattern into your block pattern or place them randomly. I made a log cabin quilt a long time ago with a polyester batting and 7 1/2″ finished blocks, and I placed the ties in the center of the “bull’s eye” and at each corner. The quilt has held up just fine, even made it through a washing. Hope this helps.