There's nothing wrong with tying a quilt. One of my favorites was made by my DGM and it was tied. Remember, all that matters is that you are having fun. Anxious to see your pics.

My DMIL (gone now) was a gifted quilter. She tied many of her quilts. Years later those quilts are still intact in spite of lots of use and washings. I love the look. She used good embroidery floss with co-ordinating colors. I'm sure you will make the right choice.

I agree with every one else. Nothing wrong with hand tying a quilt. They are very soft and cuddly feeling. For me, some of my ties didn't stay after many many washings.
And as for using the machine to tack them, this is what I did. If you have a machine with fancy stitches, set it so it will do a single motif of the stitch and then do them instead of the hand tying. I did one with little hearts, turned out cute.

Tying is one of many acceptable ways of quilting, and sometime even the preferred way. Last weekend I attended a quilt show in the Atlanta area and notices several tied quilts which were stunning. The ties did not distract from the piecing. (I thought that some of the quilts were so over quilted by machine that the piecing wasn't even noticeable.) I have a student now, who is making her first quilt. She's using a lot of her mothers' old clothing. The sweats are being patch worked as the backing. The nighties, and house dresses will be simple patchwork on the front. Tying will be the best way for this new quilter to bring it all together. She'll also be able to incorporate some of the buttons in a practical sort of way. I wish I could post a picture of her enthusiasm. She is Sooooo excited about this project, and I get to share her excitement. :-)

I have made 9 queen size quilts so far, and they all have been tied. I my self can not spend the money on a LA to do it, and I am smart enough to not even try to FMQ...yet in my early stage here.

On one quilt I sewed a button on the spot where I wanted it tyed. It came out pretty good. I would not do this for a baby quilt as the buttons may come off.

I personally prefer to hand quilt but many antique (and I mean way Back) quilts were hand tied. I hand tie if I'm in a hurry to get something done since it's faster. I think it's perfectly exceptable and the ones I've done turned out just fine. And as for machine quilting! I'm not good at it!

I just finished a quilt and tied it with embroidery floss. It came out cute. I used a couple of strans and different colors mixed together for this one. Try it but only make one knot and see what it looks like that way you can take it out easy enough and change it.

me Too
:thumbup:

I love tied quilts... I personally think that they are more like old quilts... I love all quilts though... But, tying a quilt is just one style... There are many ways to finish it. I love the tied quilts just as much as the others... Keep tying to your hearts content. And, always, always be proud of what you make... Mistakes are the flaws that make something truly hand made... Cherish your work...

I don't think anyone answered the question on how to machine tack. I too, would like to be better at machine quilting but.........I tried! I have tied many a quilt but not really a fan of that technique...recently saw on here how to machine tack a quilt and I like this much, much better. Put your machine on zero stitch length and widest zigzag and just let er' go for however thick you want the tack....Most importantly, enjoy making your quilts.

Tying a quilt is a great way to get one done faster. I like them as well, my Grandmother always tied her quilts, she used old woolen blankets for her batting and sometimes she used sheets for the backing. What ever they had at the time as money was tight. Today anything goes as well, I personally feel that quilts should be used and not as decoration, but that is just a personal thing with me. Everyone has their own prefrence as to how to make and what to use, machine quilt or hand quilt fabric choice and colors it is all personal taste and pocket book. We all have the same outlook love of quilts. :-P

I have tied several quilt for family memebers. They all turned out nice, I am now hand-quilting some of my quilts and will have done some simple machine quilting on small quilts. One of these days I will try to machine quilt a bigger quilt on my dsm. I want to start doing fmq, but haven't gotten the nerve to do that yet.

That is the only way I do my quilts. Not to say anything against machine quilting. Seen some beautiful work done that way(all of them). Just that we have made close to 600 quilts for charity and that is the only way we can afford to finsh them before binding. Not to say someday will machine quilt, but my personal quilts are tied too. Can't sit long enough to hand stitch them all because mind working way ahead of what I am working on. Did hand quilt one baby blanket though, many years ago.

I guess I like the feel of using a hand tied quilt more than a stiff machine quilted one - more comfy and it curls around you more in the cold weather - but I do get most of my quilts machine quilted but not a tight quilting method - although some quilts are gorgeous with a lot of tight quilting - I do not care for them for using - they are more for admiring and having on display. That is my idea anyway - but each person has their own preference.

I have tied many quilts in my days. I started out using yarn but found that after many yrs of washing them the fibers would wear out so I switched to embroidery floss & tie them using the 6 stands into 3 knots & cutting 1" from the knot. After that they have never worn or come out. We also do UTILITY quilts at my Church & use this same technique. Hoping to see more of your quilts.

:thumbup:

I agree. A machine stitched "X" (you can go over it several time for strength) blends in the the quilt better than a tie, if the tie ends would be distracting to the design. Plus, you don't have to move the fabric around in the machine, just sew at one spot and move on to another.

Sometimes I tie with the knot to the back side. I use Crochet threads single strand, strong enough to tie. I run a really long running string at the points I want tied stitching up and then back down. Keep the string running as long as you can. Snip all threads between each point you want to tie.Make sure the string between points is extra long. Then tie the knots at least three times. Don't cut the knot strings too short. Approx. 1" will work Suggest practicing on scraps first.

One other thing I have done on a 9 patch is to machine stitch each patch corner using a 1/2" long stitch in the ditch and back stitch a couple of time to hold it. So far works pretty well and the stitches don't show on front. I use cotton thread on cotton fabric.

I've tied a couple and have one in the starting stages I think I'll end up tying too. IMHO - it all depends on what you want to do...it's your quilt and your creation!

Diana I hand tie all of my quilts because I am like you, I cannot do them on the sewing machine and cannot afford to have them done. I like mine just as well.

Oh, never feel ashamed. You are still creating,and that's what counts. I have made many heavy flannel comforters over the years, and tied all those. I am starting to think I may have to tie everything, my quilting thumb and fingers are wearing out. Not too good yet with machine quilting. Just have fun!

I have tied several especially when I first started quilting. Sometimes I have used accenting colors and tied on the back.

I am now working on SITD and a little FMQ. Neither is great ... My quilts are not perfect and neither am I. I've been making a lot of potholders. I use up lots of scrap fabric and batting and I can actually have a sense of accomplishment quickly.

I do both, but hand tying is still one of my favorites love the comfy look it give a quilt

Tie away! Our foremothers tied lots of them and many of them are still around. You don't have to apoligize for tying your quilts. Better finished in the only way you can do them than to have them lying hidden in some closet. There is nothing wrong with tying quilts.

Most of the quilts I have done have been tied. For kids I will run the machine over em and not tie. But for adults if they request it,I will tie.
IF it feels good to tie then do it , if it feels good to machine then do it !

I'm sure it will be just great. As others have commented, it's really personal taste and whatever makes you feel great about your piece. We do this for the love and beauty of the created piece, which we all know is in the eye of the beholder. Washing makes a big difference. So, all may not be lost after all. Enjoy!!!

My favorite quilt, one my Mamaw made me, is tied. That was what she was able to do and it makes it no less special.

I had tied one for my son using a button at each corner of the square. He loved it and my sisters and mom thought was a great idea.

nothing wrong with tying a quilt it is a generational thing in our family

My grandmother used to make the tops then have grandpa tie them, she was a stickler for having them tied approximately ever 1" that way they lasted a very long time through lots of use and love. I have tied a few very hard on my hands to much arthritis we all have a method that can work best for us. In my research tied quilts are referred to as tufted and the ties may be on the back so as not to distract from the front design as in crazy quilts which were primarily tufted, but remember to select good thread for tufting please no yarn it looks ugly after washing I prefer crochet thread 8 - 12 weight. works great!

I tie all my quilts. I tried hand quilting and can't seem to get the hang of it. Too expensive for me to send out. Tying quilts was how they did it many, many years before sewing machines came on the scene.

Some quilts are just better-looking if they are tied. It is a fine way of finishing a quilt.

I have made several tied quilts. At first I used yarn, which proved to be difficult to pull through the layers. When it became too painful for my hands to tie the quilts, I "tied" a couple by sewing bar tacks in place of the ties, using my zigzag machine. This worked just as well as tying and was easier on my hands.

I always tie quilts for children under 10 years old. I actually think that sometimes the ties add a lot to the look of the quilt.
Good luck, Kutnso

I tie as wel as hand quilt my quilts depending on who they go to and there is nothing wrong with tied quilte the look just as good as the quilted ones so tie away sweety :)

Would love to have more info on tying. Are there any instructions I could follow.

Thank you for this post. I have been considering tying my quilt tops that are done, and this just convinced me it is okay. As many say "It is your's, do it how you want". I think we all forget this. If you don't like my quilts, so be it.

I have tied lots of quilts and this is how I taught my great niece to do her first quilt. It is a great technique and a time-honored one. I do use embroidery floss usually. Yarn seems to fray too much.

For tacking quilts, you set your machine up to sew on a button, then sew invisible (no button) buttons in a pattern or randomly all over the quilt.

Actually, I like the warm feel of a tied quilt better and do a lot of tied quilts.