If you do decide to tie it, do the surgeon's square knot.
right over left, repeat, then left over right repeat. The knot is much more secure.
As far a stippling, when you have time, if you can lower, or cover your feed dogs, you will be able to free motion quilt. You will need a darning foot, sometimes called a hopping foot. Eleanor Burns recommends a spring needle.
I recommend that you start off with something real small like a pot holder.
Go to You tube and type in free motion quilting, you will get all sorts of demo videos.