Originally Posted by GemState
What makes it a surgeon's knot is the fact that you wrap the thread twice each time rather than the usual once.
Gee, I always called this type of knot a butchers knot. I use the same method when trussing poultry or tying a roast. It also works really well for tying ribbons on Christmas presents when you don't have someone around to put a finger on the knot. The double wrap holds the first tie in place until you do your second knot.
Good to know to use it when tying a quilt. I will use it in the future.