Hand Tying for a Queen Sized Quilt??
 

Hi Ladies and Gents (?)!
I have a Queen sized quilt I put together, I have been dreading FMQ it on my Janome. It has a big throat but it really is a disaster moving it around, and pushing and pulling and it kills my shoulders!! I will not send it out and pay hundreds of dollars for something I can do, but don't feel like doing, and I can't afford a long arm at this point, although I am tempted. I tried hand-tying a quilt last year, but it was onerous, it was a big quilt that had been bought as a top, it was vintage canvas like material. Questions: If I hand-tie this, what material is best, and also, how does it shrink compared to FMQing shrinkage. Also, does it last? Can it take the wear and tear of daily use and washings a few times a year? Thanks in advance!
Nancy

there are some pretty old tied quilts around- so i would have to say-if done correctly they hold up just fine-
many are done with regular cottons, flannels and /or wools
choosing the correct batting is important- you want one that says 'good for tied quilts' or one that allows up to 10" between quilting lines (like warm & natural)
and you want to baste well- and make your ties every 4" in a 'grid-like' pattern- the (normal) rule of thumb is:
you make a fist and place it- a tie should be touching your fist in 4 directions-top, bottom each side.
use good quality (tieing material) some people used perle cotton, some embroidery floss (all 6 plys) some use some sort of yarn-
shrinkage depends on lots of things- the fabrics (pre-washed or not?) chosen batting, the fabrics themselves....and the way it is laundered....just like any quilt.

I haven't ever tied a quilt but have seen finished tied ones. I think it gives the quilt a kind of old-fashioned charm. I would imagine it would stand up to a few washings a year. The old-time quilts were tied and held up well.

Thank you so much for your advice and sharing your knowledge. I think I am going to tie this quilt and see how it does. Will let you know!
nancy

Tying the quilt sounds fine. I did one recently using Warm and Natural Batting and tying it with perle cotton. It was easy enough to do but wasn't as large as a queen.

I recently did a combination of SID and machine tacking on an almost-queen size. The blocks were about 5.5" and the batting was rated for hand tying or quilting at 4" intervals. So I did the SID and then tacked in the center of each block. The batting was Hobbs Polydown and it was SO much lighter and easier to maneuver through the machine. It will scrunch way down then fluff back up.

AnitaSt

Another option is to look into the various ways of quilting in sections. Marti Michell's book, Machine Quilting in Sections, explains how. There are ways to do it even if you've already sewn your top together.

Good advice and suggestions. Thank you very much!
Nancy

Have you inquired about the cost of having a local longarmer do a simple meander for you? I doubt it's as expensive as you think. It would be beautiful, wear well, and solve the problem for you, with no aching shoulders.

Tying is a good way to finish it. You need to make sure you use a good thread to tie with and also make the correct knots so they don't come out. I have used embroidery floss, full strength, it takes a good size needle. I have also used wool yarn, it will shrink up and make a nice tight ball and won't go anywhere. Good luck I have never had a tied quilt actually shrink up.

I've tied many a large(king) sized quilt. I use embroidery floss and I personally prefer closer ties, regardless of the batting, so I tie every 2 inches. All of the quilts have laundered just fine.

That is only way I did quilts for many years. I use embroidery floss. I do not know about shrinkage, because I learned to prewash fabric and use poly batting. My quilts have been used and abused by my kids and family members for years from baby size up to king size.They have held up beautifully.

I tie all my quilts. I use either embroidery floss or crochet cotton. They are still holding up

Thank you for starting this post. Pulling a quilt through the harp of a home sewing machine is so hard on healthy shoulders, but on shoulders with problems it is almost impossible, and I am now working on the very last large quilt I will ever quilt on my home machine. I have decided to hand tie them. The posts on this subject have been very helpful, and have helped me decide to tie future large quilts. Crib quilts and lap quilts I'll probably continue to quilt on the machine or by hand ( if I EVER get the hang of that!_) Thank you so much Nancy Lee.

As a teenager, I made a patchwork quilt for my dorm room. I used yarn. But through the years I made simple tacked quilts for my daughter. She liked changing her room theme every couple years. I did not mind as long as I found the twin sheets in the theme. I would buy two sets. I saved one for bedding and one set for the quilt (fitted sheet removed all elastic) and curtains with flat sheet and extra pillows with extra from flat sheet. I liked using the crochet thread on spools. Yes, I pinned it every four fingers across. Then did it in the center of four tacks. My daughter is 22 now and the quilts are still being used and washed. Good Luck to you.

Thank you so much, everyone!!! Longarming a quilt this size, in NY, is at least $200 and I would rather put that money away to save for my own longarm. I really cannot afford it right now.
You are all so helpful!
nancy

I have a hand-tied queen size quilt that I made more than 25 years ago, and it is still just fine (if you overlook the patches because the puppy chewed on it). Just read the label on the batting to know how far apart to make the ties.

I agree with all the options about hand tieing. I have done quilts where I combined hand ties with machine quilting in the boarders. I have used both embrodiery thread and pearl cotton.

As far as shrinkage, it would depend on your batting I think. I don't think on a tied quilt you would get that crinkled look that some folks like when you have a cotton batting that shrinks.

I LOVE my hand tied queen size. Its been washed ofter. I used Perle cotton and left them about 3/4" long (would do an inch next time) and used the "surgeon's knot". I'd do it again in a heart beat!

Good luck!