I've tied one completely and then another tied and handquilted. The rest machine quilted. I have a string top, basted with quite thick batting, it is an absolute nightmare to put under my machine. I am thinking as it's been on the 'backburner' so long, maybe I should tie it. A couple of times I've overheard others say that a tied quilt isn't really a 'proper' quilt.....I am beginning to think 'they' were wrong. Thanks fellow quilters, I think Rachel's string quilt is going to be tied.