I tie some and stitch some on the machine. They are still quilts and hold up just as well from what I have experienced. If tying is what you can do, then do it and no apologies needed!

How did you teach your niece. I would love instructions thank you

that was how it was done before machine quilting and I think it is quite a art I have tied some of my quilts that were too big for me to quilt on my machine and I really enjoyed it and it went alot faster than the machine quilting.

I have tied many quilts and the hold up very well. Do no feel inadequate because of this because everyone does things their own way. I have been a sewer, quilter for a good many years and there are newcomers on here that do better than me but, this is a great site and I have learned so much about techniques etc. The people on her are not judgemental in any way as far as I can see. Just enjoy what you are doing

Now See, I thought it was just the opposite; that quilting instead of tying makes it more durable. My Little Granny did both, hand quilt and tie. She made her last quilts over 20 years ago and both kinds have withstood constant use and washing. I've only made two throws and both of them were denim, one was a nine patch with regular fabric and the other was ALL denim. I used my machine to quilt both of them and you can certainly tell I'm very very new to quilting!!!!

I, too would like to know what Tack stitching is.

Thanks

I made a crazy quilt out of velvet, leather, lace, embroidery and very unusual quilting materials. The quilt also have beading on it so I tied the quillt with very small ties of black crochet thread with very short tails. It turned out beautiful, so much so I have had requests for this same quilt. The crazy quilt was a christmas gift for my daughter along with a crocheted throw in a matching color.

I have athritis in my hands and find it easier to tie. I use crochet thread,sometimes i do some stitching in the ditch.

I don't feel there is anything wrong with hand tying, I have often thought about doing it myself, only I am sure there is a proper way to tie a quilt, and I just am not aware of how it is done. I remeber as a little girl, going camping and sleeping in the cottage on a roll-away bed. My grandma would cover us in a nice warm quilt that had little red knots made out of yarn all over it. I absolutely loved the warm feeling I got from the quilt and my grandma, maybe in some way, that is why I quilt today. It was never taught or handed down to me by any family member.

My very first quilt was hand tied. That is the bug that bit me to start quilting. I tie my denim quilts, but machine quilt everything else.

My husband's grandmother tied all the quilts she made..she said that was the way her mother and grandmother taught her...it's apart of the history...can't wait to see yours...

you have to do what works best for you there is nothing wrong with tying quilts i have seen beautiful tied quilts

Macie, if you use the search function at the top of this board, and type in tying quilts several topics come up, with lots of good info. Also, try googling "tying quilts" There is lots of info out there, and some video's as well. Good luck in your search.

I'm very glad my Mom tied a quilt. Several years ago she gave me an old blanket that she had covered with a sheet and tied it together. Last month it started to rip so I took off the sheet expecting to see an old blanket that she covered. Instead I found an old quilt that was hand sewn. It was a scrap quilt in 3 inch squares. Unfortunately most of the fabric is torn and worn out and I don't think it can be replaced. I saved the quilt and the back of the sheet for support. (Still tied) If she hadn't tied it, I probably would have tossed it in the trash not knowing the treasure underneath. Don't know who made the quilt, Mom and her sister don't remember it.

Well I am so glad to see so many of us DO tie quilts. I tie most of mine. I did machine quilt a baby quilt, but I used the decorative stitches on my machine. I have arthritis in my hands and can't hand quilt and would not attempt to put a big quilt through my machine...so ties work just great. I haven't seen many posted that aren't machine quilted so come on ladies post those beautiful hand tied quilts !!

This is how I use the machine to "tie". Set the machine on a zig zag stitch, set the stitch width you want, lower feed dogs and stitch back and forth a few times. It's called bar tacking.

What does "machine tack" mean?

I use wool to tie. It shrinks up nice and stays knotted. It is what I grew up with. I never heard of quilting before I was in college. All I had ever seen is tied with wool batting in between. We had gravity coal furnace in Wisconsin. We needed the thick warm comforters. I had a crazy quilt I just loved. I don't remember if it was tied or what. I just remember looking at all the pieces - I never got tired of looking at it. My sister doesn't remember it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with tied quilts. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

I love tied quilts. I machine quilt on my domestic sewing machine...mostly straight-line stitching but that can make some interesting patterns. I've machine tacked a couple also. I use either a 1/4 inch or so of satin stitch. Or one of the decorative stitches on my machine that have areas of solid stitching. I'm working on a scrappy for my own bed (queen size) and plan to tie it.

I have never done tying but after reading all these replies l have just the quilt to do this on for a first time, a king size disappearing nine patch scrappy. I was going to do an enlarged zigzag instead across the ditch in multi coloured thread which l have done before and looks very nice and also cover's a multitude of sins as some time my joins are not the best but tying sound easier doing it by hand.
Elsie Blight
Australia

I have tied a few myself, and have been known to machine tack one or two...that's fine! The main thing is to get them finished so someone can enjoy them!

I would staple them together if the staples were not likely to scratch me. Quite frankly, it is only a method to keep the three layers together so I don't see anything wrong with quilting,machining, tacking or tieing.As soon as permanent gluing is invented, that's the one I will use.

These are your quilts and as long as you are pleased with them then enjoy. I have tied quilts before when I wanted them to be a bit poofier for added warmth.

There will always be someone who doesn't like hand tied quilts. In fact the guild I used to belong to would not allow tied quilt in their yearly quilt show. I was lucky enough to be able to take a class with Helen Wieneman (sp) of Heartbeat Quilts in Hyannis, MA on machine quilting. When asked about tied quilts, she pointed out a cover quilt on a well known quilt magazine was hand tied, and disagreed with the guild's decision not to have tied quilts in a quilt show, as that particular quilt was a lone star quilt. Until she told us it was tied, I doubt any of us would have known. If a tied quilt is good enough to be the cover quilt of a quilt magazine, your quilts deserve the same consideration. I believe, above all, that we should do what makes us happy and always that a quilt is our own art work, so we should do what works for us. I'm sure your quilts are beautiful.

tyed quilts are just as beautiful to me as the fancy quilted ones. so do not feel any shame. looking forward to your pics.

I'm with you on this, I tie all my quilts because I haven't learned to do them any other way and don't have time to stop and learn right now.
I have been able to kick out at least 70 quilts this year because I hand tie them. If I had to do them any other way, they would not have gotten done.

Sure I love some of the work I see others do but to me it only adds extra time and/or cost that I can't afford.

So all you folks that make the really pretty quilts with all the extra stitches, keep up the good work, they are oh so pretty to look at. But I will stick to my ties as long as I can do them.

hand tied quilts are generally fluffier and cozier to sleep under or wrap yourself in. I once fretted about that too and like each method. You dont get that warmth from a tightly quilted quilt. Just my humble opinion.

i agree. when I do get LA work done it is the least amount they can do. Just had one done for my DD and it was perfect. The thick stuff is only nice on a wall hanging. (My opinion)

Lots of old quilts would be lost without tying?

If you tie a quilt for a baby, you should tie it on the INSIDE so no loose thread is showing and they cannot get any of the tie thread in their mouth.

I tie quilts all the time. Don't beat yourself up about it. I live in MN and everybody wants a thick quilt anyway. In fact, my very favorite quilt, that I brought out of storage tonight, is a tied Maple Leaf quilt. One of the advantages of tied quilts is that if your batting goes flat, you can put new batting in. Not something you can do with a quilted quilt. I have 2 quilts I can only use for summer quilts now - they are not warm since they lost their loft.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL252.../190398834.jpg

I nearly always use flannel and thick batts on the tied ones. Nobody complains. I found using Cascade 220 wool yarn to be the best choice. It's thin enough to go through relatively easily, and the knots felt, making them more secure. Scads of yarn in a skein - it's almost enough to do 2 queen sized quilts.

Still, don't consider your quilted quilts ruined. Everybody is a beginner at some point. I have a couple of quilts I am less than thrilled about, but the recipients loved them. My first two projects are horrible, but one - a tree skirt, I only have to look at 6 weeks a year (at most). The other, a table runner, I actually have hung up on a book shelf at the entrance to my sewing area. It reminds me of where I started, so I feel good about it.

Other examples of my tied quilts (note: none of these are kid or baby quilts). They are Full or Queen size.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL252.../364897934.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL252.../345475366.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL252.../343262061.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL252.../147468413.jpg

I've ties lots as well as hand quilt and see nothing wrong with it. some materials just need to be tied like jeans material or heavy material.

Lori, can you explain your process on machine tacking a quilt? Do you pin it first? What stitches do you use? Other tips? Thanks!

Stephanie

I am not a big fan of tied quilts...just a matter of taste I think.

I tie all the quilts I do for charity.

My mother tied all her quilts and she and she made hundreds I also tie mind. If you look at any quilts that where made before the long arm came along they were all tied or hand quilted.

Tying quilts is just one other way to hold the quilt layers together. Tying is my specialty, a tradition passed down from my mother from her mother. I have a back order of three quilts and every one of them will be tied. It is a time honored tradition, be proud.

Before bonded batting, tied quilts were only possible if the filling was something other than batt: a worn out quilt, old blanket, flannel petticoats or stitched together rags. I'm sure desperate homemakers filled tied quilts with cornhusks, newspaper, whatever they could get hold of to keep the family warm during hard times. Remember, too, down comforts and feather beds.

Batts HAD to be quilted and closely otherwise they clumped. They(batts) were not practical tied then, as they can be today.

I think a tied quilt would be pretty with buttons fastened with the tying thread--haven't tried, though.

Tying is very easy! And fun, and soothing, because it is easy and repetitive. Here's how I do it:

First, clear off a table which does not have a surface that you care if it gets scratched a little. Spread the sandwiched quilt over the table and pull up a chair.

I use a curved upholstery needle with a big eye. I use Perle cotton. You can use a nice long length. Figure out how far apart the ties need to be, based on what the batting says about the quilting distance.

Thread the needle, but don't knot it. With the upholstery needle, go from the up side to the down side. Leave a tail on the up side of about 3 inches. Go from the up side to the down side again in the same place. Tug a little to tighten up that spot. Without cutting the thread, find the next spot for a tie. Go from the up side to the down side twice, just like you did before. And repeat. When you reach the end of that length of thread, go back and tie them off: Cut the inbetween lengths. Tie two surgeon's knots in each spot: Right over left and around twice, tug tight, left over right and around twice, tug tight. Cut thread tails off at one to three inches, depending on the effect you want.

If this doesn't make sense, let me know!