I've tied a couple using perle cotton, and I really enjoyed doing it that way. Probably will tie the baby quilts I am working on. I don't think I can handle quilting on my sewing machine ,just not enough room to give support to the extra, andf hand quilting is out, arthritis in hands, and like you, I just can't afford to send them out.

I have heard people comment that if you put a stack of quilts in front of kids & let them pick what they want----they will almost always pick the tied ones. they are softer, so me.
but, I quilt most of mine. go figure !

I have never tied a quilt.

I am on my first quilt and I am tying it. It seems like it is taking forever. :?

It's pretty quick..you do not have to do every block. Make sure to put your cutting board under the area that you are hand tying.

I tie occasionally and also machine quilt. I find to machine quilt, since I have just an ordinary sewing machine, to break the quilt down into sections, quilt those sections, then put them all together with hand stitching on the back, bind them and their done.