I am doing a tied quilt but don't really care for the tails that it leaves behind. Anyone have a suggestion or instructions on how I can tie but not leave tails showing? I guess I want more of a basted type stitch.

Iuse what I call an invisible stitch. It is sort of like a french knot. On my french knots you go up and down in the same place. So for a tied knot I go up and down 3 times in the same place being careful not to go in the exact same place or it will pull out but keep as close as possible. Then I have the tail on the back side and after I get the 3 I run the thread through on the backside to catch the tail like you would on a button to secure it. Then after I have made sure the thread is secure I clip the tail as close to the knot as I can without cutting the knot itself. It won't be totally invisible but it won't show much especially if you use a thread that matches the quilt. Make sure when you sew the first time you catch the beginning tail in that stitch and also in the next 2 stitches. Then you only have to deal with the thread on your needle at the end. I guess it really isn't tied but it gives the same effect with out any tails showing.

You can do the same 3 times through and tie it at the end instead of hiding the tails and then after you tie it a couple of times you can trim the tails close. It is whichever look you like.

I've never tied a quilt, but couldn't you just bury the tails in the layers of the quilt?

I like to make tied quilts the way my Momma did. She'd tie each knot three times and then trim the ends to about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. She always said, "The knots are what ties the love in." Also, on baby quilts they give the babies something interesting to focus on and fiddle with. A basting type of stitch is going to catch on things and pull.

I like your suggestion. It holds so well.

someone on here "ties" quilts with what she called "chicken feet I think" It looks like an open lazy daisy stitch.

Turkey Tracks is what I've seen it called too. I think if you look under tutes there are directiosn to do this. They look like little V's up and down the quilt.

OMG lol that is it TURKEY TRACKS!! Ty hmmm where did I get "chicken feet" rofl...getting OLD ANyway, I love the look of it.

Margie

I'm doing a baby quilt that is tied, and I leave the tails. I like the way it looks.

You could always bury your first tail. Then loop through twice, and instead of cutting the tail there, just run your thread over to the spot, loop twice, and move through to the next spot (running your thread between the back and front in the batting). I saw this method somewhere and like it, but I can't find instructions now. You'd have to have longer pieces of thread, but it gets you what you want!

Rachel

Hi,
Here is another option for you:
start your tie from the back side, take several stitches close to each other but not in the exact same holes. I like to place mine like I was stitching a box - one stitch on each side. Stitches are in a very short length, and really close together. After each stitch, tie a square knot. There will be a square know between stitches 1 and 2, between stitches 2 and 3, and 3 and 4.....

This only works if you are using something fairly light weight to tie with - pearl cotton works great and is available in a really wide range of colors, or a 'sport weight' yarn that can be machine washed.

If the fabric will 'buckle' between a knot, either your stitch is too big or too far apart.

After the last knot, I like to do one more - from the end of my last knot I will enter the fabric on the side of the little square of knots away from where I tied the last knot. This one serves to 'cover up' all of the others.

Ok, got that last knot complete. Don't cut your thread off yet. Instead, take one more stitch with your needle. Insert needle right next to the knot, but don't bring the needle out through the front. Instead, let the needle travel through the center (batting layer) for an inch or so, then bring the needle back up on the same side you started on - the back side in this case. Now, pull on the thread slightly until you see the knot starting to move. Now clip the thread close to the fabric. Your tail is now hidden in the middle layer.

You could use your sewing machine to make the 'ties'. Put the machine on bar tack and then use that as your ties. I would think that would leave a small stiched spot with no fuzzy 'ties.