I tie all my quilts. Do you have the old fashioned quilt racks? 4 boards, wrapped in material so you can pin the bottom to them and pull them tightly and clamp? Then add the batting and then the top, pinning each layer either to the boards or the backing. I tie at least according tot he batting directions, but usually to every sewing line intersection, center of block, etc. I tie quilts because my gramma, mom and sisters do. I have a sister who also LAQ. I, too, can't afford the cost of having them long armed, so tieing works for me!