Try using a doll making needle. They have a larger eye and a sharp tip not to mention more to grab onto. The length of the needle makes it easy to do a running stitch with a loop where you want to tie at. Not explaining this well so i've attached a link that is similar to what I do. Only thing I do different is I do it from the top then I can go back and clip in the middle of the long runs and that gives me my tails to tie.
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2010/...ied-quilt.html