Originally Posted by mpspeedy
Hi, That method is the main way I make Linus quilts. They can then be tied or quilted very basically. It saves on having to bind them. I actually use my serger to sew the basic envelope and then finish with my sewing machine. There is a way to also machine tie that I have used. Just set your machine to make a very small/short buttonhole if you have that capability. That way the "tie" is backstitched at both ends. Then I just lift the pressure foot and move to the next tie location. When I am done I just cut off the threads that run from one tie to the next. Finished quilt.
I, too, like the envelop method for my charity quilts and like using this method as it's a bit faster than binding, for me, anyway.
When I quilt the blankets, I start quilting with a bit longer stitch and stitch down the center of the quilt and then quilt FROM THAT CENTER line to the outsides of the quilt making sure I smooth as I go. I've had good luck doing the quilting this way. Quilts lay flat, look good and MOST of the time I don't end up with puckers or other unsightly wows that I have to tear out and redo. I use a walking foot on my machine and this helps make your fabrics glide through the quilting process without so many puckers, too. LOVE my walking foot.
Tying vs Quilting: I do both (NOT WELL on the quilting but I'm learning)! Another thing I've done instead of the suggested tiny "button hole" quilt tying, I use the decorative stitch on my machine that looks like a STAR. I enlarge the star as large as my machine will allow which produces a star about the size of a pencil eraser and I do these stars around the quilt about every 4 to 6 inches apart. When I've done all the stars, I go back and cut the threads between each star. The finished look is great and it's a pretty easy application.