American Patchwork & Quilting - USA (2019-08)

WHEN TO TIE

Hand-tying, or tufting, a quilt is a time-saver because

it requires minimal marking and is faster to do than

machine- or hand-quilting. Tying is also a good finishing

technique for a thicker quilt because it will not flatten the

loft of a thick batting. And traditionally, hand-tied quilts

tend to be less formal and have an allover patchwork

pattern of small pieces with no open area to showcase

elaborate stitching. Historically Log Cabin and Nine-Patch

designs often were finished this way.

WHERE TO TIE

Tying can be done at strategic design points on the quilt

top, such as the corners or centers of blocks or strips, or

in an allover geometric design, such as a square grid,

with no reference to the patchwork pattern. Ties generally

are spaced 3"–6" apart, though one tie at each block

intersection should be sufficient with today’s battings,

which do not separate into lumps over time.

You can tie from the quilt front or back, depending on

whether you want the knots and thread ends to show. You

can use matching or contrasting thread or yarn, which can

be trimmed short or long as the project requires.

MATERIALS

If you want to tie a quilt, choose batting and thread based

on the effect you are trying to achieve. Do you want a fluffy

quilt or one with a low loft? Do you want the ties to blend in

or contrast with the fabrics? Is the quilt going on a bed or

will it be hung on the wall? How often will it be laundered?

Because tying is not dense like machine- or hand-

quilting, it will not add stiffness to your quilt. To take

advantage of this, choose a batting with a soft hand, or

drape, that is compatible with the weight of your quilt top.

You can use either bonded or needle-punched batting.

Choose thread that complements the weight and style

of your quilt and that can be cleaned in the same manner.

For lightweight fabrics, use crochet cotton, fine cotton or

linen yarn, or perle cotton Nos. 5 or 8. To prevent leaving

noticeable holes in the fabric, use an embroidery or crewel

needle large enough to hold your thread but no larger than

necessary to pass easily through the layers.

HOW TO TIE

Assemble, layer, and baste quilt layers
as if you are going to machine- or
hand-quilt. If your tying design is
based on the intersection of patchwork
pieces or if you can gauge the
placement by eye or with a ruler as
you work, you do not need to mark the
quilt top. Otherwise, mark your tying
design on the quilt top. Thread your
needle with one or more 36" lengths
of thread.

1. At your first tying point, make one

(^1) ∕ 4 "-long running stitch through all
quilt layers, leaving a 3" thread end.

3. Repeat the running stitch and
   backstitch steps at the next and
   subsequent tying points until the
   thread length is used up.
   2. Make one backstitch through the
   same holes; do not cut the thread.
   4. Cut the thread halfway between
   adjacent stitches; trim thread ends if
   they are longer than 3". Tie pairs of
   thread ends in square knots. Trim ends
   evenly to between^1 ∕ 4 " and 1".

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Square Knot Diagram

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