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 How to Tie A Quilt

 The Alternate Method to Finishng a Quilt

Sometimes tying a quilt seems like the very last resort to getting a quilt finished.

While hand quilters love the look of a skillfully hand quilted quilt, and machine quilters appreciate the beauty and complexity of fine machine quilting, tying a quilt can be equally rewarding.

Many tied quilts are simply tied in the corners between the blocks, leaving the blocks as open space. Other quilts are tied in the center of each block with either yarn or perle cotton.

The best ties are washable, won’t unravel, will stay tied, and are strong enough to hold together when they are tied. Even with those considerations, why not add a little flair? Using embroidery floss or cording might be a possibility. And instead of using yarn or perle cotton, try a ribbon.

And what about adding something interesting in the tie? Sew a cute shaped button – say a train or fire truck – onto your quilt, and then tie the knot on the back of the quilt. Simply pull your thread from the back of the quilt, attach the button, and knot the thread, just as you would sew a button on a shirt.

Another possibility is a bow. Instead of just knotting your quilt tie, finish it off with a bow. Add a large button under the bow for an even more interesting look. As added safety against the bow coming untied, double knot it.

And speaking of trains, trucks and other things with wheels, make double-sided circles of fabric and sew them on to your quilt as wheels of your vehicle, attaching them just in the center. You might even add a button on top, and make the fabric circle wheel able to spin around.

If you have a lattice on your quilt top, maybe you could lay down a narrow ribbon and tie it in place with ribbon ties every few inches along the way. If this quilt will be washed, you might want to secure the ribbon strips with other stitching as well.

Where you place the ties on your quilt can be interesting, too. Just as quilters stitch their quilting to make a design, your ties can add to the design of your quilt.

If your quilt has an ocean flavor, your ties can be like birds in the sky or whiskers on a seal. A basket quilt might have bows along the handles of the baskets. And your Sunbonnet Sue might have ribbons on her hat.

Have fun with every aspect of your quilt – from sewing the blocks together to quilting the top – whether you hand quilt, machine quilt or tie your quilt, finish it so someone you love can enjoy using it.

 

 There are two ways of finishing a quilt. First you could sew around each block, or create patterns using hand or machine stitching that will enhance your finished project or you could hand-tie your quilt.

Instead of quilting patterns or lines to hold the three layers together, you make a series of knots at regular intervals all over the whole quilt. This technique is fantastic for very thick quilts that have a heavy warm batting and where it would normally be very difficult to sew small even stitches.
  1. Lay the quilt down on a flat surface. It should be pinned together so that the backing, batting and top are squared away and placement is close to where you want it. Smooth the quilt so that it is free of wrinkles and completely flat.
  2. Find the center of the quilt. While looking at the pattern, decide how many ties you are going to do, and where you are going to place them. Consult the batting packaging for advice on spacing.
  3. Thread a tapestry needle with your thread, ribbon or yarn. Starting at center of quilt, insert the needle through from the top to the back and bring it back up, allowing only about 1/8-inch for the stitch at the most. Pull through until about 2 inches of thread remains. Cut thread so that you have two equal pieces poking out of the fabric.
  4. Starting at the center of your quilt take long stitches as shown going through all three layers. You should keep the distance between the ties about 3" to 4" apart. It is not recommended to go further than 6" between knots. Step Two Cut in the center of the threads between where the knots will be as shown at left. You will then tie each of these tail with a square knot. You may then trim tails to desired length. It is recommended that you leave at least 3/4" tails to prevent from unraveling of the knots.

Square Knot

The diagram left shows how the square knot is done. The two colors are just so you can see clearly the paths of the threads.

Tie a knot in the thread making sure to pull it tightly to the quilt. This will secure the three pieces together and prevent the batting from bunching. Continue tying the quilt together in the pattern you decided upon until complete. Finishing the quilt will entail sewing the edges together.

   The diagram left shows how the square knot is done. The two colors are just so you can see clearly the paths of the threads.
  • Use a "thread" that is durable and colorful. It needs to withstand the tugging while being flexible enough to tie and stay tied. Embroidery floss, pearl cotton, yarn, ribbon or cording make good choices.
  • Use a crewel needle which has a large eye and a sharp point, and is long enough to hold specialty threads.
  • Decide where you want the ties to be, and mark those points with pins. Avoid seams and seam allowances.
  • Start with a length of thread that is about 30 inches, with no knot in the end. Pull the thread down and then back up through your quilt and leave 3 inch tails on both sides of the stitch.
  • Use a square knot, also known as a reef knot to secure your tie.
  • We recommend smoother, strong threads or yarns for tying quilts. Heavier, thicker coarse yarns: - require larger needles and may create bigger holes in the fabric - may be more difficult to pull through - may bunch up your batting around the tie - may grab batting fibers that show up on the loop side of your stitch
  • When pulling through the yarn or thread, if you feel it grabbing the batting, release the tension, change your angle and pull gently. Avoid making several stitches then pulling your thread or yarn.
  • Tie by going twice through the 3 layers for extra strength # Taping the backing to a large table or floor with masking tape will help to hold it smooth for pinning. Also check our handout for the "Blind or International Stitch" to hide the yarn inside the quilt for a bar tacked look.


Sometimes tying a quilt seems like the very last resort to getting a quilt finished.

While hand quilters love the look of a skillfully hand quilted quilt, and machine quilters appreciate the beauty and complexity of fine machine quilting, tying a quilt can be equally rewarding.

Many tied quilts are simply tied in the corners between the blocks, leaving the blocks as open space. Other quilts are tied in the center of each block with either yarn or perle cotton.

The best ties are washable, won’t unravel, will stay tied, and are strong enough to hold together when they are tied. Even with those considerations, why not add a little flair? Using embroidery floss or cording might be a possibility. And instead of using yarn or perle cotton, try a ribbon.

And what about adding something interesting in the tie? Sew a cute shaped button – say a train or fire truck – onto your quilt, and then tie the knot on the back of the quilt. Simply pull your thread from the back of the quilt, attach the button, and knot the thread, just as you would sew a button on a shirt.

Another possibility is a bow. Instead of just knotting your quilt tie, finish it off with a bow. Add a large button under the bow for an even more interesting look. As added safety against the bow coming untied, double knot it.

And speaking of trains, trucks and other things with wheels, make double-sided circles of fabric and sew them on to your quilt as wheels of your vehicle, attaching them just in the center. You might even add a button on top, and make the fabric circle wheel able to spin around.

If you have a lattice on your quilt top, maybe you could lay down a narrow ribbon and tie it in place with ribbon ties every few inches along the way. If this quilt will be washed, you might want to secure the ribbon strips with other stitching as well.

Where you place the ties on your quilt can be interesting, too. Just as quilters stitch their quilting to make a design, your ties can add to the design of your quilt.

If your quilt has an ocean flavor, your ties can be like birds in the sky or whiskers on a seal. A basket quilt might have bows along the handles of the baskets. And your Sunbonnet Sue might have ribbons on her hat.

Have fun with every aspect of your quilt – from sewing the blocks together to quilting the top – whether you hand quilt, machine quilt or tie your quilt, finish it so someone you love can enjoy using it.




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