at one time most people tacked quilts abd now it seems that everyone thinks a quilt has to be quilted. when making an everyday quilt tqcking is completely acceptable. i can not take the time or money it takes to send each quilt to the quilters. please give me your thoughts on this subject. betbet

You are certainly right, tying or tacking is perfectly acceptable, but how to finish is a choice each person makes! Some folks love the quilting process so much that they always go that way.

Are you referring to "tying" a quilt with yarn or floss? I did those for years. They are great. Except, I am trying to give my projects a more artistic flair. Since I don't use regular block anymore, I want my designs to stand out. I couldn't imagine "tying" a Bargello.

I have string tied several quilts. I use these for throws, and washed alot quilts. They have held up well. I also have done a few quilt as you go. There are no right or wrongs. Do what you like best. I too cannot afford to send all my quilts out.

Many quilts today are still tacked (tied). I participate in an annual quilt project for charity and all the quilts are turned & tied. Just personal preference on how you finish your quilt, just use appropriate batting for the technique you choose and you're all set!

i would say it's because now it's more of an expression of art, not utility as it was with our ancestors

I sleep with a tied quilt. It is softer and warmer than my longarm finished quilts. I have a longarm but still tie some.

I quilt all of mine because I love FMQ. It relaxes me. My grandmother tied all hers and they were beautiful. I see no problem with tying a quilt.

I don't send any quilts out, I do them myself. It's all about preference and I prefer quilting. I don't like the look of tied quilts and I personally would never own one or use one. If that's what you prefer, however, than that's what you should make.

The one on my bed now is tied! Someday I may remove the ties and machine quilt it. But for now I love its softness.

I have a quilting machine but many baby quilts & some throws just look & feel better tied. I like to tie baby quilts especially because they are 1. smaller 2. gives more texture 3. Faster to finish if "birthed" or bound by turning the backing to the front instead of binding.

I've used the tacking stitch on my Janome for the border. It works really
well and there are no tails. It looks like a little asterisk.

I tack most of the stuff I do, but it's never a big project. When my sis in law made a quilt for her son's graduation, we tacked it. California twin sized.

I "tacked" this one with an eyelet stitch my machine did.

You can also tack (tie) using a hand embroidery stitch such as a fly stitch or any other that you like (cross stitch, french knots and feather stitch also work well). You can even tack with a small chain stitch flower.

Just run the connecting part (and the knots) in between the layers and you'll have a more 'artistic', less 'rustic' look to the quilt. The choice of fiber used also has a big effect on the overall look...perle cotton or silk buttonhole twist are far more refined looking than yarn or floss.

Tacking doesn't have to look utilitarian or like an after thought. It can be just as beautiful as machine quilting and should never be looked down upon as amateurish.

Brava! You said it well. :D

Whether I tie/tack or hand quilt depends on the quilt. Unless quilting is going to make the quilt stand out, I tie. I've used floss, thread, and buttons.

I've tied quilts & tacked some using a stitch on my machine. I have been improving my machine quilting & FMQ skills & really prefer to quilt that way. I'm just not big on hand work. I don't even do my binding by hand- all machine & I'm getting fairly decent at it. To each her own!

Me too.
This is what I was always taught by my grandmother: The all-over stitches that hold the three layers together, whether by hand or machine, are called 'quilting' and what categorize a quilt as a quilt. If a pieced/wholecloth top was tied or tacked, it was called a comforter, spread or bed throw because there was no quilting involved.

Mind you, this was many, many, many years ago and things have certainly changed! I think whatever way you choose to do it will be the right way :) It is a very personal choice for each quilter. Do what you like! I think the only way it would matter is if you were entering one in a contest and had to follow 'rules'. ~shudder~

I tie a lot of my fleece quilts that have flannel on the back. It keeps them nice and soft. Some quilts just "ask" to be quilted; depends on the design of the quilting. Baby quilts shouldn't be tied, so I usually just do a straight line quilting. All depends on how you are using them.

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

that is a good idea. never thought to do that

Most of my quilts were tacked until I aquired a LA. We have a group that meets every Wed.(Soup group) and all of their quilts are tacked. Many of the churches that are local still tack all of their charity quilts.
Brenda

your quilt is your artistic expression and you should do what ever you want to join the 3 layers.

NEVER feel your work isn't acceptable as "quilts" especially on here. We love to see all the hard work everyone on here does. I hated machine quilted quilts for a long time. Have gotten used to them and FMQ my own smaller ones. I still like the looks of tied quilts too. They are so soft looking. Soooo do some show and telling. :) :thumbup:

I don't care for the look of a tied quilt, myself. To each his (her) own tho, and there is no wrong way to make your quilt. I don't send mine out to be quilted, nor do I have an expensive longarm machine. I machine quilt on a regular machine, or sometimes hand quilt.

Occasionally I see photos of tied quilts posted here, but they are definitely in the minority.

One of our quilt guild members made a quilt from her FIL's old
shirts and sewed on the buttons to take the quilt. Sounds neat
and a great way to reuse old buttons.

quilting or tacking for me depends on what I want from the finished quilt. If I want a quilt that is soft, warm and great for cuddling, then I tack or tie. But if I am looking to finish a quilt with a refined and artsy look, then it will be quilted. The amount of quilting done depends on fabrics used and the pattern. I don't like too much quilting because it makes the quilt flatter and much stiffer and not so cuddle friendly.

Hmmmmm....I'm probably wrong but, to me, a comforter would be a whole cloth that was tied. If you take the time to piece a quilt together it seems to me that it's still a quilt only using a different finishing method. What say you?

I think this is the beauty of quilting - everyone can do what pleases them - tie or not, FMQ or not, sent to LA quilter or not... all good options for those who choose them.

LOVE your monicker 'cause I do a lot of "stitchin and rippin'" :lol: