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Quote:

Originally Posted by Krisb (Post 7983539)

If the quilts are not too large, you could also look at the invisible or international stitch, as shown here. It goes pretty quickly—a crib quilt took about 2 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEkHht2oJsg

Or “big stitch” quilting. I used this one a quilt 10-15 years ago, and it is fine. Used perle cotton.
http://blog.sulky.com/big-stitch-qui...cotton-thread/

But to your question: if done with perle cotton, hand tying can last about forever. Yarn, don’t know.

We tied a quilt with Perle Cotton and the ties all came loose. It is too slippery and the knots all came loose. What really concerned me about that was: we sent another quilt with Perle Cotton ties to a charity somewhere in Kentucky. Those people don't need to get a gift quilt that is going to fall apart.
I tie my quilts with wool. That will never come loose, and they get tighter with each washing. We had two quilts on the boat like that made with polyester bed sheets and wool ties. Those quilts may still be around; they were going strong after 15 years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranum (Post 7983896)

Grandma used the “tie on the needle” method.

I’ll attempt to explain: take a stitch and leave a 3” tail. Repeat stitch. Now you are ready: hold tail with one hand and circle the tail once and come through the loop you just made, bringing loop to a closure by pulling on needle. This completes first half. Hold tail again and with needle, circle tail opposite way from before, bring needle through loop and pull needle until loop closes up securely. Cut thread, leaving a tail equal in length as other tail. Done. In essence, this is a square knot.

This is basically the same knot my grandma taught us and that we use for Lutheran World Relief quilts going to disaster areas and refugee camps. The only difference is that we don't change directions on the last half. I can see the advantage of how you do it!

P.S. You don't really need an extra long needle for this type of knot.

Our non-profit ties comforters for shipping overseas and they are tied with Aunt Martha's crochet thread. I also have many pieced comforters that have been loved and used for many years. The fabrics usually give out before the ties come undone. Just be sure to double knot.

Great information on tied quilts. And I really like the chart on the batting and quilting distances. That is definitely going in my notebook for quilt charts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maviskw (Post 7984707)

We tied a quilt with Perle Cotton and the ties all came loose. It is too slippery and the knots all came loose.

This is why I made the comment about using a square knot, which will not come undone no matter what type of textile you use.

I have tied several quilts and have one I have used for years that is a throw. They have lasted and look great. I always use crochet thread as it is much stronger.

This post made me go back into my memory archives. We I first started quilting we really only had 2 options. You could hand quilt or you could tie it off. Long arms machine were almost unheard of--they were few and far between. We almost always tied off baby quilts because of the constant use and they held up well with tying.
We are very blessed to have so many quilters that have long arms machine and they do such a great job on the quilting. It took me a few years to "adjust" to quilting by check. meaning I'll gladly pay someone to use a long arm.