Originally Posted by thepolyparrot

I'm pretty lazy when it comes to starting and stopping in FMQ. :)

I put about 1/4" of stitches close together in one direction, clip the loose ends of the threads next to the fabric, then trace back over the stitching again close together, then I take off in whatever direction the design calls for.

After I finish a quilt, I wash it and dry it and inspect it for loose threads and thread ends that need clipping.

I used to bring up the bobbin thread, tie a double square knot, then thread the loose ends and bury them in the quilt. If you're quilting for show, that's going to be the neatest way to do it.

But, you can't see where my stitching stops and starts after I wash the quilt, the quilting stays firm and doesn't unravel and that's all that matters for my purposes. :)