I tie quilts, and hand quilt the really special ones. Most of the time I "let the quilt tell me what to do to it". I really like to tie baby quilts. I generally use yarn thinking it gives little fingers something to fidget with. I tie each piece three times. I match the yarn with the fabric used in the quilt. They hold up fine to washings and are easier to re-tie if they do come undone. I generally leave a 1-1.5" tail though.