Do what works for you. I get really sore wrists if I tie. sometimes I machine tack. Usually I machine quilt. It's OK to tie your quilts. Many people prefer them that way.

If you are having trouble with machine quilting, there are some main reasons for that, IMHO:
1. no walking foot (called by various names)
2. trying to do free motion work without dropping/controlling the feed dogs and using an embroidry/darning foot.
3. poor preparation a. You need to press the whole quilt well before you start.
4. poor preparation b. You need to pin/baste well before you start.
5. poofy batting without a LA takes lots of skill/practice. Don't try to start there.

Remember, none of us is perfect. neither are our quilts.

Tying has its own problems. My dear hubby wanted a poofy tied flannel quilt. I made him one. His parrot crefully untied nearly every tie. Some small children do thsat too.

I have tied almost all of my quilts. The few that weren't were special & were sent out to be quilted. I like the way tied quilts look. I use perle cotton, rather than yarn, embroidery floss, or crochet thread, as it doesn't fray like yarn, & comes in a variety of colors.Please don't feel inadequate about tying your quilts. They are special in their own way!!!!

I don't know about that one. We had hand tied quilts back in the 1950s. The batts were made from wool. If the blanket got out of shape they just cut the knots, removed the batt from the covering and sent the batt to the woolen mill to be re-carded. Then the blanket was put back together or mended depending on how worn the cover was.

I have tied many.

Tied quilts are puffy and fluffy after being washed and dried, in contrast to Longarm quilting, where the quilt tends to flatten; with elaborate closely-stitched quilts the flattest of all. If your quilt top isn't perfectly flat, well, tie that quilt! The perfect solution: no one will ever know!

Good Morning Dianna,
I too have tied some of my quilts. I think they are beautiful, a break from hand quilting and machine sewing.
Puts me in mind of those days when we visited "Grandma's", and we would sleep under her magnificant hand-made quilts.

Looking forward to your pics.
CruisingStef

I just learned about this method from the board. Can't wait to try it on my next quilt. After vacation to Boston next week. I NEED this.

I just learned about this method from the board. Can't wait to try it on my next quilt. After vacation to Boston next week. I NEED this.

Totally agree tied quilts have a special charm.

I Love ties quilts. I used to help gram, & my mom way back when we used to make quilts out of necessity just so we would have bedding! also if you put a tiny bit of glue between the first half & last half of your knot, it wont show or come untied as soon. shaz

I love tied quilts. They seem so much like my granny used to make.

I hope I'm not asking a dumb question, but how do you tie a quilt form the back? How do you know where to tie when you can't see the the block joints (pattern) of the quilt? I tie most of my quilts or send a few special quilts out to LA (but can't afford to do that to often). I am making an Around the world quilt for a wedding present and tyng on the back would not cause as much distraction as on the front would. Thanks

I don't know about everyone else but I tied a little square knot on the front of the quilt in a matching thread when I have tied quilts. Hope this helps. Donna

You can tie the quilt from the front or the back - depends on which side you start on. I found if I use a good wool yarn it sort of felts up and stays tied nice. Thin wool yarn goes through the material easier than thick - either will felt. You don't want to 'granny' the square knot or it will pull out.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: just beautiful, :P :P ,, Dottie Bug

My kids like handtied, puffy quilts much better than the closely quilted thin quilts. They are cuddlier.

Some quilts are just crying to be tied, others want to be hand quilted and then others Say Quilt me!! anyway you want.

I want to tie my quilt, but how and where do you start tieing?

For years, I tied all my quilts. I had 9 children when my husband died unexpectedly.
I would cover worn out quilts and blankets with 2nd hand sheets or fabrics and tie them. For Christmas gifts, I would tie pretty quilts tops to old blankets--(I could never afford batting or purchased materials of any kind.) My children loved these quilts.
It is only now that I am beginning to quilt like my mother and grandmothers have always quilted.
To me, no stitched quilt will ever be a beautiful as the remade tied quilts that wrapped around my precious children.

I think it depends on the top of the quilt. You want the knots evenly spaced. You can put them over corners or in the middles of the squares. Sometimes the knot is as much a part of the decor as anything. You really won't want knots too close to any of the edges.

My mom gave me "quilting" boards that were handed down. They were poplar 1X3s about 8 or so ft long. They are kind of small for a big quilt. Anyway, there are holes drilled every couple inches. Then rags tacked on to hold the quilt. I think the holes were for pegs or something. Anyway now days they are held together with c clamps. We made our own before too. Take 4 long straight boards and tack down a strip of fabric right smack down the middle the whole length on each one. They go just tight enough to not pop when you pin to them and loose enough you can pin to them with out sagging.... must be an art.... Then you lay the boards on the floor pin one quilt side to the strip along the side of the board. Do the bottom piece first. Then put another board on the opposite side and pin it on to the scrap fabric. Once the two long sides are pinned get the other two boards and use C clamps in all the corners to hook the whole frame up. Then pin the top and bottom of the quilt to the top and bottom of the frame pieces. Then put your batting on it. Then put the quilt top on and re-pin it to the frame - the batting just sets there. Then you get 4 nice ladder back chairs and put one under each corner of the frame. Then start by tying a knot about 5 to 6 inches from the edge in the middle - then go 5 to 6 inches (or what ever) and make another knot. Go each way in any design you like. You don't have to cut the string until the needle gets too short. Then you cut and tie all the strings. When you get to where you can't reach the middle you unhook the C clamp and roll the sides under a turn and re-clamp the boards. You try to do it so you don't have to roll it much. You can put a little kid under to catch the needle and send it back through. LOL... That was what I remember doing when I was in first grade and stopping by the ladies aid after school. I also snuck cookies... When you get it all tied, take it off the frame - lay the whole thing on the floor. Turn the fabric under and pin it together as you take it off the frame - then all you have to do is sew around the edges. TaDa a 'quilt' - NOW I have been called down on this before. Some people think if it isn't quilted with thread stitches along each seam it isn't a quilt it is a comforter.... Tell that to my mom.

I have tied quilts for a long time. It seems they last as long as the quilted ones.

Well it looks like we all generally agree that there is nothing wrong with tied quilts. In fact some of us prefer them. All this talk of tied quilts, it sure would be nice to see a picture or two.

Hand tying is always okay and especially if that's all you can do. Be forewarned tho, who will end up with them? I have done a couple of them but a large one I did for my youngest got tossed in the washer & dryer too often and took a lot of abuse. I rescued it back and took it apart so I could do it over. This time with more effort and washing instructions.

Hi I like tying too! My grandmother made quilts and tyed them too.Am stil a beginner-in between. Still learning! Gonna try Perle cotton as I have used yarn and it is ok but does not seem to wash well. I so admire hand or machine quilting but it is not my cup of tea! Well, I prefer coffee! LOL~! Take care! I so love reading and learning from everyone on this board! Love to see everyone's work too! Eddie's work is amazing and lovely!

Here's a log cabin I tied and have used for about 10 years on my bed. I mostly tie with yarn and knot it 3 times so it won't come out even with my DGD pulling on the ties when she goes to sleep

My small quilt group just did a quilt demo at the County Fair. We had 1500 school kids coming thru and let them hand tie pieced quilts that we had "pillowcased" and placed on frames. They completed 5 small charity quilts that way and they look great! We also let them try hand quilting with a "stab stitch" and picking strips for a Roman Coin quilt top. I think anything that works is fine in quilting! No Police allowed!

Whether it is hand quilted, machine quilted or tied makes no difference. It is a creation of your making and should carry the same amount of pride and sense of accomplishment no matter how it is constructed. Give yourself a big pat on the back for all those beauties you've created!

If that is what you can do, & you are happy with it, that's all that matters. If you really want to machine quilt, keep practicing on small thing to get more comfortable with it. You will learn at your own pace. A few years ago I didn't like mine, but now I do quilting on domestic with a 7" harp for more than just myself. Good luck to you. :thumbup:

I have never tied a quilt but have watched a couple of videos and I think I'll give it a try on a couple of quilt tops I have ready but didn't want to mess up with trying to MQ. I'm not very good at it yet. I always get puckers no matter how much I pin. But I'll keep practicing.

So much advice and comments from everyone, and you all make me feel so good. Thank you for everything you have sent my way. I feel so good about my quilts now. Wow, am gonna keep on tying, since that is all I can do, and feel great about it. Will post pics on Monday, Father in law passed away and his funeral is Sunday. Thanks again everyone.

I also have trouble with my hands and tyeing is the way I have to finish the quilts I make. There aremany things said about tying but my favorite is The quilt is done now!. So whatever works for you I say don't worry about it. Marvel

I am part of church quilting group and to keep production going we tie all of our quilts. It is a lot of fun to pick a color that goes with the quilt and enhances an often very scrappy looking quilt.

My guild ties all of our charity quilts.

I would love to know how you machine tack? It sounds interesting. Thanks.

Some quilts just beg to be tied. I tried hand quilting, machine quilting, and the only thing that looked OK on one quilt was tying. You did the work, it is your creation, it is up to you how it completes itself!

Thanks for all the wonderful information ... It is very informative, I learn so much just from reading the posts. I will be posting pics today.

Here are the pics finally. Thanks for being patient

Most are just blocks, but the last is the hardest thing I have done. I started all of these in July of this year, so I feel I have accomplished alot. Thanks for looking

They are wonderful! i would have to say the attic window and the broken star are my favorites. I like your crossword quilts though, too. what a cute idea!

Thank you for sharing your pictures. Your quilts are awesome. I love the scrabble and crossword quilts. Actually...I love them all. Keep the pictures coming.