I've been searching and searching, and just cannot find an answer to this...

I'm making a fairly large quilt. I know machine quilting it on my machine will be a nightmare and I just can't afford to have a longarm quilter do it for me, so I'm thinking of tying it. Everything I've found says to leave tails at each knot...but I don't like the look of the tails. Is there a way to tie it without having to leave tails or a way to hide them? Will they stay hidden if I just pull them to the middle of my quilt?

Thanks!

Good question!

I think that you could just cut the tail closer to the knot and it should be okay. have you thought about tying the middle and just doing sid around the edge of the quilt to help hold it in place?

Why don't you like the tails? Just curious, but I think if you cut the tails too short, they're likely to come undone. When I tie, I cut the tails to about 3/4"-1" long. Does your machine have tacking capabilities? If so, then maybe that would be a better way than tying, although you'll still have the manhandling problem.

I just don't like the way they look...makes me feel like its unfinished with loose threads...kwim? Just not my style.

Have you seen turkey tracks? Here's one example:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-1753-1.htm

Looks like you make the "turkey track" then hide the thread in the sandwich and don't cut it. Just move over to make the next track. You'd just have to be careful that your thread didn't show through to the top of the fabric. You could probably do the same concept with a French knot or just a regular knot. I've never tried it, but I think it looks neat on the quilt.

Some people have the tie ends on the back so all that shows on the front is a stitch.

I agree with Bearis. If it doesn't matter where the stitches fall, then tie it on the back.

I have always used a "butcher's knot" or what my Grandmother always called an A&P knot (for the old grocery chain back East). It's actually just a square knot, but when you wrap the thread through, instead of doing it once and pulling, wrap it twice. Pull it tight, and that knot won't come loose! Then you could trim the threads fairly close.

Or if it is thread you are tying with, why not thread a handicapped needle and hide the ends in the quilt batt?

I would tack it on my machine or hide the knots in the batting. Whatever works for you.