I tie /tack mine. will never be able to afford a longarm and will most likely never create any quilts good enough to spend more than I have in fabric to have it sent out to quilt.(although I do have a couple planned. If they turn out well enough lol,I have high hopes ha ha)

This is why you don't see me post pics, cause they don't seem to be acceptable as "quilts" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Personal choice and $$$ dictate a lot of decisions in life - quilting is no different.

Tieing, tacking, basting! The differences between American and British English are always so interesting. In my mind, tacking is the same as basting, and I have learnt to use the word basting becasue it is used in the quilting world. (I had never heard it before I started quilting 11 months ago).I have never heard the word tacking meaning to tie. Is it just me or are other users of British English a little confused?

Well, to me all three are different procedures. I tie a quilt, tack a lining at seams on clothing, or tack darts, baste a quilt or any temporary stitching. But I find a lot of people use these terms interchangeably. Only know one Brit so can't say how they compare to our terms. I only know she gives her kids biscuits, not cookies or crackers.

Here's one of my first quilts (not on point, so quilt police keep away!). I used ribbon to tie it.

I would tie or tack more if I didn't FMQ - as I can't afford to send my tops to be quilted. I enjoy the challenge of the quilting.

I kind of thought "tacking" was using some sort of stitching - like "turkey tracks" - to hold the layers together.

Here are some links to "turkey tracks" or "crows feet" or "lazy daisy"

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-1753-1.htm

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-19582-1.htm

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-26051-1.htm

Only after poly batting became available. Batting was originally handfuls of cotton, hand carded and laid on the backing. It shifted horribly if it wasn't very closely quilted. Really old quilts are quilted an eighth to a quarter of an inch apart to keep the batting from shifting.

If you don't want to quilt your quilts then don't. Do whatever makes you happy.

Really old quilts (that have been used a lot) also tended to get lumpy.

I tack mine most of the time except queen size