Originally Posted by pam1966
Sooner or later this year I'm going to make my sister a king size quilt for her bed. I'm going to use a low or medium loft cotton/poly blend for the batting, and I decided to make life easier on me by tying it. That way I won't have to wrestle it through my machine and it will be "soft" enough for her bed.
So my question to all you smart people on this board: how? I've never tied a quilt. What do I use? How closely together does it need to be tied? And is this a good idea?
I don't know how anyone else does it, but this is my method. I've never tied a quilt larger than a lap quilt, but this should work on any size.
First of all, I "pillowcase" the quilt instead of putting a binding on it. Lay the batting down first, then the backing right side up, then the top, right side down. Sew around all 4 sides, leaving an opening large enough to turn the quilt right side out. After you've turned it, hand sew the opening shut. I usually do a top stitch 1/2" from the edge all the way around the quilt.
Then, lay the quilt flat on a table so the weight of the quilt is supported. I usually start in the middle of the quilt. I use DMC embroidery thread, because it is easily available and comes in a multitude of colors. I usually use 3 strands (it comes in 6 strands and is a pain to separate, but 6 strands is just too thick for me), I start stitching a hand-width from the 1/2" top stitching. My hand is about 3" wide at the knuckles from my index finger to my pinkie, but you can space your knots wider, though I wouldn't suggest any further than 4". I use my hand because it's easier than using a ruler (LOL). Stitch twice in the same spot, then continue across the width of the quilt doing a double stitch each time. Begin with a 2" tail, and each time you need to re-thread, make sure you end with a 2" tail. Start the next row a hand-width below that row. Don't worry about clipping or knotting yet. Continue until you get to the end of the quilt. Turn the quilt around, starting from the center and work your way down the other side.
When you finish stitching the entire quilt, go back to the center row and begin clipping the embroidery thread half-way between the stitches. Clip a row, then tie it. To tie each knot, I use a "butcher's" knot. Hold one end of the string in each hand, wrap the right string over the left twice and pull tight; then wrap the left over the right and pull tight. By wrapping the string twice the first time, the string doesn't slip before you tie the second half of the knot. This was an old trick used by butchers and grocers when they wrapped purchases with paper and string before bags were invented.) Once the row is tied, I go back and trim the knots to about 1".
I do each step row-by-row, so I don't miss tying or trimming a knot.