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*** I do knots.
*** I have not had good results will just pulling the thread into the batting.

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This is what I do also.

I knot and pop the knot into the top, then run the ends of the thread up and down thru the layer of batting at both the beginning of stitching and at the end of a length of thread.

Jan in VA

I knot in the beginning, and pop it through to the batting. When I come to the end of the thread, I do not knot, I run it through between the layers for about 4 - 5 inches. I use quilts that I made 20 years ago, and none of the threads have come loose. I generally quilt about 2 inches apart, so I don't know if that makes any difference or not.

I, too, knot at both the beginning and end of my quilting thread. Just the way I learned (self-taught/TV/told). I pop both through the top and batting to hide them. Could you possibly do a small test piece of the non-knotting method? A small sandwich, quilt as you've described. Serge or zigzag the edges and wash numerous times to see how it holds up?

Me being a hand quilter. I knot before, I start to hand quilt. And I knot after I've finished what I'm hand quilting. I would be afraid the thread would come loose, some where down the road. And of course alot of usuage.

I always make a knot at the beginning of my quilting and make sure it has popped in the batting, at the end I do not knot but take my needle back thru the batting and try to get in between some of my stitching and have never had any come out. I think like many other things it is a personal preference.