Our guild makes over 1200 doll quilts a year for Head Start. Believe me the children who get these are so thrilled and they don't care one bit how it is quilted. Some people tie them. I like to practice my FMQ on them and think they hold up better than tied ones. Just my opinion. People who received these from people they don't even know are so gratiful to receive something. They give them to the children and Christmas and they are all different colors and designs and they are so appreciated. One mother even took the quilt to use for her baby rather than the childs doll. If I had known I would have made another for the "real baby." Don't worry they aren't the quilt police and may really enjoy seeing the stitching.