I just kind of back stitch when I start & end, to lock the thread in, then trim the ends of. Same way I use to sew before I started quilting, & have never had any come apart. Works for me...

I do 2 or 3 stitches in one spot, cut the threads and call it good, too :D

You can stitch almost in place taking tiny tiny stitches. Or you can bury the threads. Or you can back stitch a little.

You must reduce the length of the stitch and not really stitch in place. If you stitch in the same place, you will make a lump of a stitch that can't be buried and will likely come undone or get caught on something. It should be smooth. I do the small stitches thing and then still bury the knot. Can't be too careful!

Was going through here reading and when I read your response I thought, "Uh oh! You've been doing it wrong and now all of your quilting is going to come loose!!" :shock: Then got to the part where you said you just cut them off and call it good. Whew! Because that's what I do.

It is a good idea to knot and trim the threads as you go so you don't end up sewing over them in the next pass of quilting. Some times my bobbin runs out in the middle of the quilt and I have to unstitch the quilting several stitches so I can knot the thread and bury it before countinuing.
hope this helps a little.
peace

how do you bring the bobbin thread to the top (if it is what I think it is, just having both threads exit the quilt from the top)

do you just put it on a sewing needle and stitch it to the top?

Ditto. :thumbup:

When you first put the needle in the fabric to start FMQ, and the needle comes up through the fabric, I use a pencil point to pull up the bottom bobbin thread. Then I take a couple of stay stitches and start FMQ.

Pull to top then few small stitches to secure and trim.