I've done this on Quillows and baby quilts (the drag-around ones). I use the *, flower, duck, etc. It's cute and does beat the blistered fingers.

That's how I did a baby quilt. I didn't want even small amounts of thread or anything hanging there for a baby to put in his/her mouth. The little circles just added to the design (if you looked closely enough!).

I've done this with a stitch selection on my machine that was something like a 'tack' stitch. It worked but not beautiful.

Never thought of using the duckies or other things! Now I have to make another quilt to try this on! This one was for a male, so just used the button thing.

Have used this method for quilting also because it does go fast. We all have our personal favorite way of doing things.

Tying quilts with sewing machine
 

You can lay a piece of yarn or ribbon underneath where you zigzag to fasten it down and then tie the ends like you would tie it regularly, in a knot or bow or whatever. A six inch piece of yarn or ribbon is easy to tie however you want it.

My machine has some decorate stitches and I used to do a little flower on little girl baby quilts.

I have done this for years, back before I even considered myself a quilter. I made my DGKs flannel "blankets" and I would use one of the fancy stitches on my machine, setting it for one single motif. I still have some of those blankets here from my 21 year old DGS when he was a baby, and they stay better than the hand-tied ones I did.

I tied a wall hanging white on white wedding quilt once. I put small white satin bows on that way. The bows really added to the quilt . The hard part was making the tiny bows. I really enjoyed tying that way.

When I "machine tack" my quilts, it's more like stitching in the ditch, but just for a half an inch or so. I learned this from my niece about 15 years ago. It's almost invisible. I just stitch in the ditch for 3 or 4 stitches, back stitch 4 or 5 stitches and then go ahead another 3 or 4 stitches. None of that has ever come out. It's fun and fast and durable.