when i 'tie' on the machine, I lay either 6 inches of 2 pcs of yarn or embroidery floss, OR a 5" pc of poly doublesided ribbon (grosgrain or satin, doublesided is the big thing). for floss/yarn, i lay them down and either bar tack or sew back and forward 3 times.... then i tie the floss/yarn into a surgeon's knot (left over right, and then right over left twice). When using the ribbon, I fold both ends over to make a bow with no knot...now bar tack or satin stitch a square in the middle. with double sided ribbon, it will wash and dry and still look perfect... no wrinkling... once you get going on either method, it is fast...