My quilt shop was called TIED & TRUE QUILTING my mom only tied her quilts and my tops were just piled because I didn't want to TIE and didn't want to use my machine (all big Tops) Hubby said NO MORE MATERIAL to some get finished Got a used long arm started on my own tops upgraded machine in 2002 now do quilts for other people and Yes now I have more material then I can handle So I do Tie on occasion but think machine holds up better than tie or hand quilting. To each there own.