Hand-Tied Quilts

Ok, my daughter would like her scrappy quilt hand-tied. Well, I have never done this before and wondering what is the best kind of batting that I should use for it. She wants it to look as she says poofy and old fashion.

In addition to this, I am wondering how I go about getting the quilt ready for tying it together. Should I base the layers together also then do I bind it before tying it or tie it and then bind it? The quilt is a chevron pattern with 3 1/2 inch finished blocks. Any thoughts on this would be well welcomed!

Beats me. I've never tied a quilt. However, a friend of mine is making one for her sister and the LQS advised her to use the poly thick batting and tied it at least according to the spacing recommendations on the batting package.

I just read an article in an old Love of Quilting magazine about controlling borders and one reason a quilt would have wavy borders would be the quilting. I mention this because she planned to tie the inside of the quilt and quilt feathers on the borders. I think that may create wavy borders. I think tieing the entire quilt would be preferable. If anyone has tied before, can you also comment about that issue? Thank you.

I have tied a few quilts. I stopped doing it because it was hard on my wrist.

What my guild sisters do is lay it out on the banquet tables, just as they would for pinning, then tie at regular intervals, just as they would dpace pin basting. Some people use yarn. Some use embroidery floss. I used buttonhole twist because I had it. That was a mistake. The yarn makes a fuzzy dot after a while. I don't like that look, but I know lots of people who do. Most of the tiers I know use a really thick poly batting. The knot everyone uses is called a SURGEON'S KNOT. It is a square knot with an extra twist on each half.[url=[url=http://quiltersresort.forumotion.net/gallery/Personal-album-of-quiltermarynel/surgeon-s-knot-pic_2680.htm][/url

I have tied quilts, have a queen size flannel on our bed that was tied. I didnt use thick batting though but I dont like the big puffy look your daughter is after. I was only thinking the other day when hanging the quilt on the line to dry that the tieing has really held up well, the quilt is about 7yrs old and on the bed most of hte time.

I used perle cotton to tie mine, it hasnt gone fuzzy or frayed at all, stayed in great condition and I tied at regular intervals like marynel said. Mine is a churn dash design. I laid mine out on the table and tied it, I ony used a few pins to baste it roughly. I tied double knots to hold and I dont think one has come undone yet, I like marynels pic of the surgeons knot, its pretty much what I do. I jsut had a look, mine is tied about 4" intervals, hope thats some help

I've tied a few... usually lay it out on a table and pin it then tie according to batting or design of fabric... I've never used the real poofy batting but don't think it would matter. I use embroidery floss and a curved needle. usually my stepmom and I do it together.. her on one side of the table and me on the other... goes really fast... I think it is fun to do...

I don't think the batting thickness matters either, but my guild sisters traditionally use tying for poofy quilts. (Not me!)

I've done this a lot. Embroidery thread sometimes slips, wool yarn turns into a little ball after washing. I like the perle cotton best. Lay it out on tables if possible, taping the backing down. Layer the batting, smooth it carefully, then put the top on. I baste the edges with long stitches before tieing. The neat thing is, you can tie all the way around instead of just the sides before rolling.

Oooo, you quilters are so good when it comes to needing help with something I just don't get! Recommendations on the batting thank you Luvs...and a knot to use, thank you Quiltermarynel...what to tie it with thank you Gimpy and Golo and Redmadder also thanks for the instructions on how to layer and baste it...
I am not much of a poofy quilter person myself, but that is what she wants and so it will be, it is her quilt she tells me...bossy kid isn't she lol... oh I would do it what ever way she wants. Now she also told me that she doesn't like the fuzzy yarn stuff, but would like ... now get this... ribbon and some with buttons. What! I will try and talk her out of the button and ribbon thing, I think ribbon would raval away in a short period of time kids, just don't know about them sometimes...if it was a wall hanging I might concider it but a bed quilt, don't think so!

Id be afraid ribbon would unravel too and not only that but a lot or ribbons the dye isnt fixed very well, Id be afraid one wash and ruination. Buttons you could add as you tied each one, I think Golo did one for her GD that had buttons tied on it. Tell her you heard her requests now she gets what she gets LOL

I had to chuckle about her idea of poofy being old fashioned. Poofy was maybe 1960's old fashioned. The cotton batting is more 1940's and (earlier even the 1800's) old fashioned.

Ribbons I've only done once. I bartacked on top of the bows, but it was a poofy comforter and not a quilt. Buttons and bows, huh?

What kids want us to make could be a separate thread. Their tastes can be so different.

Here is the buttons and bows one.... haven't asked how it is holding up to washing...

Oh that is cute, and that little button on it is very cute too Golo. I bet she loves the bright colors you used.

I love that buttons and bows one. A friend at work is going to have a quilting day with her 2 sisters and neither of them sew. My friend is the quilter. That would be a good one for a first project.

I know lots of people like buttons, and they are fine for this use, but please remember not to use them on baby quilts.

Besides running and raveling, ribbons do have an untying tendency, unless you do the bartack #.

Pig trail:
Of course, if you happen to have a parrot around, ties are not a good idea. DH's (former) parrot got busy one day while DH was reading. He carefully untied all the ties on the top of the bed, throwing each one on the floor when he was done. He was SO proud of himself. Of course, this is the same bird who figured out how to get out of his cage, snuck into the bedroom, climbed up the side of the bed and nestled against my feet, which was something of a surprise. I told DH he had to fix the cage problem because I was not into a menage a trois.

I have tied quilts with poofy poly bat and also with cotton bat... the latter is a bit more difficult to needle through with yarn, which is what I normaly use when tying since that is what I have available to me.
I don't normally put a binding on a tied quilt... I use the 'birthing' method. With right sides together (top & back) Sew all around the edges of the quilt leaving a large opening on one end for turning right side out. Before turning the quilt to the right side, I lay the batting on top of the quilt and then turn it all together making sure that the batting fills the corners. Sometimes I even losely baste the batting to the corners to make sure it stays put, usually done on larger quilts. I slip stitch the opening closed and then tie it.
I find that trying to put a binding on a poofy batting is quite difficult

love the birdie story Quiltermarynel...just to cute!
Mamu good info thank you!