I'm back from Michael's (we don't have a JoAnne's anymore :( ) I bought two types of needles--the curved and some straight. They both say they are for quilting and basting. I'm hoping I can get the curved to work as I think it might be a little easier. Unfortunately, I don't have any floor space big enought to lay everything out--that's why I'm on the table. I hope the curved needle will help me from having to "disturbing" the layers too much.

Thanks everyone for the advice and compliments (I'll definately try out that tape technique!)! The cats haven't been introduced to the quilt yet--I can just see one grabbing onto a thread and. . . well I don't want to think about it!

Thanks again!

I have found Upholsterers Needles that have a sort of flat spot right near the tip of the point that works well. I think I found them at Walmart. I have tried the curved needles, but really don't like them....it's a preference thing.
Tying quilts is a practice, practice,practice thing. Just gotta keep at it. I also use the DMZ floss. I use the whole strand (i know some that only use a couple threads) When I tie, I use DOUBLE thread and make a square knot on it. Seems to be the only knot that will stay. Have tried just plain tying it, but the knots come out.

I'm gonna use the crochet thread, doubled up. I found this video on youtube.com. Is this what everyone uses with good results?

I do a square knot. I don't wrap it twice each time, but that might make the knot more secure. Square knots don't slip like other knots seem to. But I do go ahead and clip the threads and tie them as I go, then trim to about 1/2 to 3/4 inch after the knot. I'm not sure that's better, it's just the way I started doing it and it's the way I feel most comfortable with.

We've used that with some of the cancer quilts we do. We use embroderie floss and do a square knot. Make certain to leave the ends long enough so that the knot doesn't undo...we used 1 inch. Also look at the requirements of the batting...you may not need to tie at each square intersection.

I'm using Warm & Natural--it says to leave up to 10". . . . I thought about doing every other square, but not sure yet. I'm leaning towards doing the whole thing. . . . but we'll see how it goes when I start. Maybe I'll start out doing every other square; if it doesn't bore me do death, I'll just fill in the gaps!

I won't be getting back to it until monday :( as it's a suprise for my better half and he's off on the weekends :)

I have always tied my quilts with yarn. It seems to work real well & doesn't come untied. the yarn seems to curl onto itself & doesn't leave long tails to get tangled.

It looks like you used a flannel sheet for your batting and this is where I ran into problems. I am hand quilting my granddaughters quilt and that sheet is tough! I really have to push on the needle. That makes for sore fingers! I too thought my needle was not sharp enough but now I know it's the sheet in the middle! Good luck! You can do it!

It's not flannel sheeting--it's "Warm & Natural Cotton Batting". It does look like a sheet though. I was a little. . . not disapointed, but suprised by it--it wasn't what I thought. I had something thicker in my mind--but I don't have experience with quilting, so I wasn'r really sure what to expect. My walmart didn't have batting, and our JoAnn's closed a couple years ago, so I had to buy online. . . .

Your quilt is beautiful!