Question About Tying a Quilt
 

I want to tie one of my baby quilts. Since this will be the first time I will attempt this technique, I want to ask - How long do I leave the threads on the front of the quilt? Also, will the ends of the thread fray? I have never seen a tied quilt so I can't use one as an example. I have a book by Alex Anderson with short directions about the technique, but the length of the finished threads is not covered.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. I really want to try this so I can sit with my husband while he watches tv in the evenings. Besides, I love hand sewing. Thank You for your ideas ahead of time. :):):)

Lorrie

I usually use embrocery floss or pearl cotton. I leave the ties about 3/4 in. to 1/2 in. There will be some fraying which I personally like. Some people use yarn to tie with. I am not fond of yarn, because it seems to ball up when washed. However, it most likely will never come untied! Be sure to use a square knot.

What Humbird said. :thumbup: For adult or older children, I sometimes use decorative buttons as part of the tying process. I can't find any pictures right now but I used ladybugs on a RedHat quilt for my Ma, Shell buttons on a quilt for me, and colored buttons for the centers of flowered applique.

I use embrodery floss, perle cotton or not too heavy crochet cotton. I use a square knot then one extra knot, and leave tails of about an inch.

Personally I don't care if the thread frays. I've got good knots in and that's what counts as far as I'm concerned.

I would not tie a baby quilt. My daughter caught a baby tooth on one of the ties - found her standing in her crib with the blanket caught to her face. It might have been a freak accident but since then, all baby quilts I make are free of any embelishments that could hook.

Vanginney, I am so happy you told me that. I wouldn't want anything to happen to a baby. I will try this technique on a larger lap quilt. You sure did save me. Since I make my baby quilts for donations, I would worry like crazy if I went ahead and tied one. Worry is practically my middle name.

Humbird, Coyotemagic and GrannieAnnie thank you for your responses. I will be using perle cotton because I like it much better than embroidery floss. The floss always knots so easily even though I use lengths no longer than 18 inches. I do most of my embroidery with it now. I think it would be a good idea to try both the 3/4 and the 1/2 inch lengths to see which I like better. The idea about using buttons for embellishment sounds great. I love buttons. I can't wait to get started and I won't even worry about the thread fraying since it might enhance the finished look of the quilt. Thanks to all of you. :):):)

A tied Baby comforter should not have a way that it would hang on anything because the knots should be tied very close to the fabric. I work at a Mennonite place where they made tied comforter for sale. They used crochet thread, double strand, double square knots and cut at just over one finger (about 1/2 inch). They don't fray to much but I have one that was made about 20 years ago and it's still together and used...

She was 2 - it was a yarn tie. Maybe another material would work better, or it was a lose tie. She was fine. Startled both of us, but I did give the quilt to the dogs after that :)

I'd blame it on the yarn, not on the ties themselves.

I have bar-tacked small quilts and like that effect, plan on doing one this week. Its quick to do

I have never tied a quilt, but an idea did pop into my head while reading through this - instead of buttons, you could use some of those cute felted cut out things they sell (with the buttons in my local fabric store) Just sew through them like a button. Would give it some interest that should be safe for babies, and I think would also make it very secure.

You can leave the ties as long as you like them...whatever looks good to you. The last one we tied we left the ties about 1"...the shorter they are the more likely they could come untied easier. When I have given a quilt that is tied, I always give a "repair" kit...extra yarn/etc to tie with and a needle. That way it can be fixed right away.

My ties are about 3/4", but I see many tied quilts with much longer ends (not appealing to me, especially if not cut to even lengths). I tie with the poke method, so that there is very little distance for the thread on the back side. There is no way a tooth, toe, or anything else could get caught on either the front or back side. However, I have seen many loosely tied quilts come in for Project Linus, so loose that you could insert a pencil beween the tie and the quilt -- not good. As for embellishments of buttons and such, I leave those for wall quilts. Certainly for children they are a hazard, but even for adults they can be uncomfortable.

Enjoy tying, and be sure to follow batting instructions for distance between ties.

Dayle

Mic-Pa,Can you Please tell me what is Bar-Tack?

Not Mic-pa, but good example of a bar tack is the heavy zig-zag in one place "bar tack" on jeans back pocket. Quite simple to do---------set zig-zag to widest size and stitch length to 0. Makes a heavy stitch that takes a lot of stress.

Same as humbird.

I tied my 1st baby quilt too. Mine was only about 32"x28"....I used yarn that was colorful and fun and matched with my blanket...I threaded the yarn on one of those needles with the big eye and are like 2inches long I dont know the name of them but yeah then I just poked from the top down then up again and tied a knot...I left the tassels about 1/2" long...its still together after many many washes :) best of luck...

NO buttons on a baby quilt, NEVER,they can get loose and even choke a child.

When I tie a quilt I pinch the ties very close to the quilt and trim above my fingers. That way the ties are the same length. And sometimes I will put a very small drop of fray check on it to keep it tied. Baby quilts are best quilted - but I have tied them and no baby has been injured. And I have used yarn and embroidery floss - it depends on colors and what I have on hand.